Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while—yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

––2 Corinthians 7:8-10

I’ve decided that I just can’t watch metro news anymore. You know, the stories that your local network or news outlet run about events ––mostly terrible or tragic—happening in your area. From local politicians getting their hands caught in the cookie jar, to house fires, murders, and car accidents.

It’s not because I don’t care. I think some people are wired to handle sad story after story, but I’ve determined that it’s not particularly healthy for me. As an empath, I just soak up all that tragedy and it can literally leave me in a sorrow stupor. I also realize that I can’t live in denial or ignorance. It’s a fine line of balancing the types and amounts of news I watch with what’s healthy for me.

I will quickly add that I DO follow the news—national, world, and regional. I think it’s important for us as God’s men to stand like watchmen on the walls of society, discerning the times, praying the news, and staying informed on what’s going on. This allows the Holy Spirit to use our knowledge and direct it. Unrest in Haiti? “Here’s a great non-profit that is feeding people there,” says the Holy Spirit. Civil War and famine in South Sudan? “Here’s a ministry that brings tons of food and medicine to the most desperate areas.”

But for me and metro news? It’s hard. So much tragedy, and so much of it very close to home. As today’s opening verse says, worldly sorrow leads to death, while godly sorrow leads to redemption. While we will cover godly sorrow more deeply in tomorrow’s reading, suffice to say, this is the kind of sorrow that God wants us to take on.

Worldly sorrow, on the other hand, just brings us down. Specifically, when tragedy and injustice invade our space, as God’s men it’s our responsibility to process it in a way that honors God. “So what does that look like, Kenny?” Great question. For instance, where I live teens whizzing in and out of traffic on e-bikes is a thing. We’re talking kids who aren’t old enough to drive (legal age in California is 16), but who seemingly have “out-grown” riding a regular bike. Tragically, a 15-year-old boy was killed recently near where I live. Without getting into the details of fault, etc., here’s how I processed that:

1. This makes me very sad, Father, especially as a Dad and grandfather.
2. I can’t control the fact that I’m aware of this tragedy or deny the fact that it really saddens me.
3. Father, help me know how I’m to respond—donate to an organization that advocates for e-bike safety and laws, perhaps. And of course, pray for the people involved.

Prayer is action. Sometimes it’s the only action God calls us to take when we are hit with worldly sorrow—the type generated by the sins or fallibility of people, or even when tragedy isn’t anyone’s fault. Other times, God will call us to move beyond prayer and get involved (volunteering, donating, etc.).

As you filter the sadness of the world that hits you every day, stay in tune with the Holy Spirit. Don’t ignore or deny the world, but be “in it” with a posture of awareness and godly response, without being “of it” to the point that the sins of man incapacitate you or otherwise side-line you from your assignments as God’s man in the world.

Father, help me strike a healthy balance with the amount and type of news I ingest, and help me know where, when, and how I can get involved.

Every Man Ministries

Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  ––1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 (emphasis added)

Anyone else feel a bit deflated when they read that verse about praying continually? I mean, how do you do that? I have friends who love to pray and spend hours a day doing it. Most of us aren’t in that camp though. If prayer should be the distinguishing feature that marks a man’s thinking and approach, how can we step into the “continually” part?

The good news is that that God doesn’t expect us to spend 16 hours a day in prayer. Under the New Covenant of grace, we’ve exchanged rote religion with rich relationship. To pray continually is about conversation; it’s about taking on the mind of Christ more and more, year by year, to the point that we are talking with God throughout our day. God’s man brings before the Father anything that might have a spiritual, eternal, or practical impact on his life or for the good of God’s kingdom. For God’s man, prayer is an attitude he adopts toward all situations and relationships in which he finds himself. Think of a ship’s radar—it searches the horizon for enemies and obstacles, and constantly sweeps the landscape for what’s up ahead. The Holy Spirit is our radar—He is our helper who alerts us to the things that matter to God.

The discipline of continual prayer (ongoing conversation) is like any other spiritual “muscle”—we need to work it, build it, and feed it. If you don’t know where to start, set your phone alarm for five minutes. Then the next day, set it for six. And so on. That’s how a prayer life begins. And then after a while, tapping into God should feel natural because you’re accustomed to thinking about doing it. That’s because you know that prayer changes the course of things. To be supplicant to God means acknowledging that He is more powerful than you—far more powerful.

Father, help me build my conversational skills so I both hear Your voice and respond to it. 

Every Man Ministries

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  ––Isaiah 41:10

I’m blessed to live in a Mediterranean climate, where the summers aren’t too hot, the winters aren’t too cold, and humidity is usually low. In fact, less than 1% of the world enjoys a Mediterranean climate, and it offers rare opportunities for outdoorsy folks like me.

Much of the Holy Land lies in a Mediterranean climate very similar to Southern California’s: mild-temperature beaches year round, deserts that can get surprisingly cold in the winter, and skiing on Israel’s highest peak, Mt. Hermon. And our deserts look and feel a lot like those in Israel.

So it’s not hard for me to imagine Jesus heading alone into the Judean desert—the feel of the sandy soil, the warm wind during the day and the chill at night. When we hear this story as told in three of the four Gospels, we often think “hot, dry, windy.” That’s the desert, right? It is, but Jesus entered the desert in the Hebrew month of Tishri (late September). Those forty days were all probably either hot or warm, but the nights started to chill off—especially as He counted down the later days of the forty.

Have you been to the desert at night? It can be surprisingly chilly—and temperatures can drop forty or even fifty degrees. Can you imagine the night sky, the clarity of the stars? No fires from villages, no cities within miles. Just Jesus alone, sitting near  fire, keeping the wild animals at bay—including lions and other large cats. It’s actually an encouraging image, if you think about it:

Even when Jesus Himself was alone, His Father was with Him.

Even when you are alone—in whatever “desert” season or circumstance you may be facing—you are not really alone. The fire that protects you in the wilderness is His Holy Spirit—you carry His divine spark within you. Satan—the roaring lion—stalks in the darkness, but our Father tells us that no weapon formed against us will prosper (Isaiah 54:17).

Don’t fear life’s deserts, brother, even on the darkest nights. Call out to Him, and He will come to you. Jesus was never alone, and neither are you.

Father, thank you that I carry the light of the Holy Spirit within me, and You protect me from the devouring lions of this world.

Every Man Ministries

The Lord will go forward like a warrior. He will arouse his zeal like a man of war, he will utter a shout, yes he will raise a war cry, he will prevail against His enemies. Isaiah 42:13  NASB1995

Have you ever worked with someone who is effective but inefficient? Sure, they do a great job—but they miss every deadline. We all want to be men who can balance effectiveness (quality) and efficiency (speed). A man whose aim is accurate, who multiplies power in his life, and who frustrates the enemy. It’s the difference between someone who strives to win the battle for appearances in life, versus the guy who actually wins the battles of life. One of the most highly respected soldiers in battle is the sniper. He is efficient, he is effective, his aim is accurate, he multiplies power for his team, he frustrates the enemy, and he’s lethal for his cause.

Do you know what the world needs? God’s men, who are both efficient and effective for Him. Their aim and focus is on God, and as a result they multiply spiritual power inside of their life. They frustrate the enemy and advance the cause of loving God and loving people. Every man wants to be on target but not every man understands the battle to stay on target. It’s easy to start a home project when your adrenaline is pumping. But three weeks later, when the excitement has worn off? That fence may stay half-finished for a while.

The sniper calibrates, he selects targets, he eliminates opposition, he reloads, he re-acquires, he advances, and then he starts the process over again, depending on what theater of battle he finds himself in.

In order to win the battles of life as a man, we need to detect, prepare for, and fight against the enemy. We succeed when we calibrate our vision, select goals to shoot for, and eliminate obstacles to progress in our relationship with God and with people. Let’s reload and keep advancing in the individual battles of our issues and circumstances.

Thank you, Father, for the “want to” that You provide to win my battles.

Every Man Ministries

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23

I’m old enough to have seen the film Brave Heart when it released in theaters in 1995. At one point all the clans come together at a place called Stirling to confront the invading English army. The ragtag Scots—farmers and old men—are out-numbered with vastly inferior weaponry. Arrayed across a long green field is the mighty English heavy calvary and scores of infantry and archers. Many of the clans begin to leave, not wanting to throw their lives away for their Scottish lords.

When Scots rebel William Wallace asks the crowd why they won’t fight, a man says, “Because if we fight, we die.” At which point Wallace says, “Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you’ll live—at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!”

As I read that speech—even after seeing the movie a dozen times—it raises the hairs on the back of my neck. Why? I think it’s because we all want to live for something bigger than ourselves. And nothing is bigger than living for Christ because living for Him is about dying to self, the world, and its material ambitions—for a far better cause. John tells us that “the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17).

God makes it clear to us in His new covenant, the New Testament, that we can now accept His unconditional, perfect love through faith. He has placed His Holy Spirit in each of us who have accepted  love. The very fact that Jesus called the Holy Spirit our helper indicates that we are dependent on Him to provide each of us a Brave Heart, so stay in contact with Him.

Father, thanks for allowing me to possess a Brave Heart; not by my might or power but the power You have provided me.

Every Man Ministries

Part 5 of 5

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

More than 1 billion people—10 times more than the most-watched Super Bowl—watched the livestream of 33 Chilean miners rescued after being trapped nearly a half mile underground for 69 days. One of the key leaders was Dr. Jean Romagnoli, who helped oversee the men’s medical needs.

Romagnoli was one of a handful of doctors whose job it was to keep the men alive. On his hard hat he wrote, “Nadie se queda abajo,” or “No one stays under.” For 52 days—from the time the men were discovered until their rescue—intense pressure and responsibility rested on the doctor’s shoulders. He sent down pre-recorded training exercises so the men could stay in shape, and even prepared iPods with personalized play lists. As each man was rescued and exited the escape capsule, the doctor asked them to sign his hard hat.

It’s hard to receive help from other men, and almost as hard to ask someone if they need help. But that’s exactly what the Father wants us to do: be open to both receiving and giving help. And the further we journey into adulthood, the busier and more complicated life tends to become—filling up the margins. Stealing our free time. Sucking us dry emotionally.

So how do we make room for having each other’s backs? Start by taking the risk to reach out. Proverbs 18:24 says, “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Unlike family, a friend is someone who chooses us—and vice versa. We all need at least one friend like that. Whose name is written on your hard hat?

Father, allow your Holy Spirit to guide me to those few who will stick closer than a brother. 

Every Man Ministries

Part 4 of 5

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

2 Corinthians 4:8–9

After a drill bit pierced the roof of the chamber in which 33 Chilean miners were trapped, things rapidly kicked into high gear for rescue workers above. Nutritional supplements, food packets, and medicines were sent down in small capsules called palomas (“doves,” like carrier pigeons); letters from relatives, along with Bibles and other requested items came next.

Now that the outside world knew the miners were all alive, the challenge would be to find a suitable way to drill a big enough hole down 2,300 feet to extract each miner. To accomplish the feat, Chilean mining experts led a team that included engineers from around the world—including NASA engineers and medical experts. Three different rescue holes were drilled, and the first reached the men on October 9. October 12—69 days after the cave-in—all 33 men were rescued. One after another, each of the miners was lifted to safety via a specially constructed capsule.

If you’ve ever suffered from mental fatigue or depression, you know how suffocating it can be. It can completely deplete a person—mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Hope is the “drill bit” the Holy Spirit uses to pierce through the darkness to reach the dark places of a wounded and weary soul. Though it may feel like you are alone, He is relentless in His love. 1 Corinthians 2:10 assures us that “the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.”

At times we may be sitting in the darkness of depression or shame and it seems like God is not there—or that He is delayed in His response. But we have the assurance from His Word that He will incline and hear our cry. Tune your ear to the drill bit. It is coming. Help and hope are on the way.

Father, help me hold on until your hope arrives.

Every Man Ministries

Part 3 of 5

But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1–2

Despite the fact that 33 miners at the San Jose mine cave-in had been missing for days, with no indication that they were even alive, the wives, friends, and families of “Los 33” kept 24-hour vigil near the entrance of the main access to the Chilean mine complex. Soon a tent city called Campamento Esperanza (Camp Hope) had sprung up. Prayer gatherings met frequently. The relatives organized themselves and appointed speakers to advocate on behalf of Los 33. They asked the critical questions: Why were ladders missing from emergency escape routes? Why was the mining company slow to offer updates? What exactly was being done to find the men?

The group of advocates for the miners grew and the event drew international media attention. Supporters banged pots and pans as a reminder to local and national mining officials and politicians that they would not be silenced. Soon scenes of the San Jose mine and the loved ones rallying on behalf of the trapped miners rolled across TV and phone screens on every continent. If not for this media exposure, perhaps the search effort would not have proceeded as aggressively as it did, and the men may not have been reached in time.

Romans 8:34 says that Jesus “is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” He is our Advocate—the One who argues and defends on our behalf. And just like the miners’ families who advocated passionately on behalf of Los 33, God calls us to advocate for those who cannot do it for themselves. With Christ as our Advocate, we have the perfect model to emulate. It’s a dark, hurting world. Do dangerous good in it. Reach out. Make the call. Walk across the room. Be an advocate.

Father, help me be an advocate for those who do not have a voice in this world.

Every Man Ministries

Part 2 of 5

I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” Psalm 142:5

Immediately after the August 2010 cave-in at the San José mine in the Atacama Desert of Chilé, fellow mine workers jumped into action. Attempts to reach the 33 men trapped below via alternate routes failed, and ventilation shafts were missing escape ladders that should have been in place.

Meanwhile, nearly half a mile underground, “Los Treinta Tres” workers were facing 95 degree heat, stifling humidity, food meant to last two days, and water accessible from just a single spring and from old radiators. The men got themselves organized, with their crew boss, Luis Urzuza, taking the lead. They implemented a democratic, majority-vote process for major decisions. They ate once a day—two cookies and a spoonful of tuna fish—and organized themselves into work shifts. One miner served as medic while other men led daily prayer sessions.

For 17 days the men had no contact with the outside world, huddled in a 530-square-foot shelter. Alone in the dark, they chose solidarity over despair. It’s hard to imagine the relief they experienced when they heard the first faint sounds of drilling, and then the moment when the drill bit broke through the roof of the shaft near where they were sheltering.

We will all experience moments of pitch black darkness in life. Do we risk bruised egos and reach out to someone, or do we just sit in the dark? I imagine King David writing Psalm 40 after he and his men hid from Saul in the cave of Adullam. Penned in, outnumbered, sitting in the damp, David cried out to God, who delivered him to safety. David rejoiced and said, “He brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock” (Psalm 40:2, nkjv).

“Los 33” survived the pit because they stuck together, rationed food, shared each other’s burdens, and prayed together. We don’t need to remain in the darkness of guilt and shame—no matter what we’ve done, we have brothers ready to help. But if we are sitting in the dark, others can’t help unless we let them know we are out there, in need of a helping hand or reassuring word.

Father, help me out of the pit so I might help others do the same.  

Every Man Ministries

Part 1 of 5

The things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:9–10

On August 5, 2010, 33 men were buried alive in a mining accident at the San José copper and gold mine in northern Chilé. The accident occurred 2,300 feet underground and three miles from the mine’s entrance. Initial rescue efforts failed and the miners seemed doomed. While estimates vary, some 800 tons of stone sealed the men inside. Luis Urzuza, the team’s leader, stared at the flat wall of stone and thought, “It is like the stone they put over Jesus’ tomb.”

Two weeks after the accident one of the exploratory holes that had been drilled broke through near where the men were huddled in a small chamber. When the drill returned to the surface, a note was attached: Estamos bien en el refugio los 33: (“All 33 of us are fine in the shelter.”) Now the challenge was to get them out. They were buried alive.

Everyone has trauma. And while half the battle is discovering the wounds, the harder part is dealing with them. Unresolved pain keeps us stuck in shame or fear or guilt and we live out of it if we “bury it alive.” It blocks us from becoming the men Jesus wants us to be.

God says we must deal with things that have happened in our past, rather than just ignoring them. Jeremiah rebuked the leaders of Israel, saying, “They dress the wounds of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14). Lip service won’t suffice. The light returns when we allow the Holy Spirit to bore holes into the deep, dark shafts and do “soul mining.” Counseling is important, vulnerability is critical, but the most important way to heal the deep-down wounds is to allow the Holy Spirit to drill into you. Painful? Yes. But ultimately worth it.

Jesus, give me the strength to go through the healing process so nothing is left buried alive. 

Every Man Ministries

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

––2 Corinthians 13:5

As another year closes and we prepare to enter a new season, it’s a good time to take spiritual inventory. I try to do this every holiday season, before the coming of the New Year. I ask myself:

• Have I accomplished the tasks the Lord set before me this year?
• Did I set realistic expectations for myself and others?
• What can I do differently next year that I did not do this year?
• What does the Holy Spirit want me to focus on as I approach a new year?
• What areas of my life are holding me back—blind spots, flaws, or other defects of character?

Your list may be different, and let me be clear: I’m not talking about making resolutions that we rarely keep. I’m referring to a time of reflection where we take stock of where we’ve been, where we are, and where we sense the Holy Spirit is telling us to go.

Taking a spiritual inventory may be as simple as going through your calendar from the past 12 months and reviewing your appointments, meetings, events, and trips (both personal and professional), and asking the Holy Spirit to identify those events that mattered most to Him, and why. Did you spend your time in a way that honored His calling and vision for your life? What events were either unnecessary, wasteful, or even toxic? How can you spend your time more efficiently and effectively for His kingdom in the upcoming year?

This is not a guilt and shame exercise. Just the opposite. It’s a time for you to get alone with God in a quiet place for at least several hours (I have friends who go away by themselves for several days to take a spiritual inventory—though that’s neither realistic or practical for many guys.) It’s always an uplifting, hopeful process for me.

A spiritual inventory is a time for you to allow God to put your life in context—to take a spiritual deep breath and reflect on His path for you. Are you on the path? Have you strayed off of it a bit?

As we retreat from the world, we are able to hear His voice more clearly. I get it. Some of you are young dads or have a very full life, either at home or at work. Maybe it’s impossible for you to escape to some bucolic, snow-dusted cabin for three days. Work in advance with your spouse and explain what you are doing, and why you’re doing it. Then head to your favorite coffee shop or book store, find a comfortable corner, and pray through your list of spiritual inventory items. Set aside at least three hours.

I guarantee you this: the time will not be wasted, and God will delight in meeting you where you are, in preparation for where you are going.

Lord, help me plan and execute a time for taking spiritual inventory—speak to me clearly about this coming year and Your will for my life.

Every Man Ministries

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.  ––John 8:44

If you’ve ever been ripped off by a dishonest auto mechanic, you know how frustrating and infuriating it can be. $300 for a new “Johnson rod,” only to find out much later that there is no such thing? Yeah, it’s the worst. Satan is a crooked mechanic, always looking to pop the hood of our spiritual lives and mess around. We have titles for the tinkering of Satan and the malfunctions he causes:

Materialism: One who has bad relationships because they worship inanimate objects without souls or emotions. My Mercedes and my money can’t give me a hug, laugh, cry, or be hurt by stupidity. Things are safe to love because they require no character, but unsafe for your soul because they are soulless.

Hedonism: One who has bad relationships because they pimp people, seeing them ultimately as objects of—or a means of—achieving self-gratification. No one I have ever known enjoys being prostituted for someone else’s high. Hedonists love “feelings” or physical sensations or risky behaviors.

Narcissism: One who thinks life’s all about them. They are the god of their life: relational narcissism is an oxymoron. All of their relationships are meant to reflect back on them in a positive way. You can’t be addicted to yourself, your appearance, your titles, and your control over others, and genuinely serve someone else’s needs.

Satan will dress up these rip-offs in powerful ways; he pops the hood and suggests things we don’t need that will give him the profit. He suggests and we buy it. Same ol’ story … remember Eve? Everything we buy begins with thoughts that are suggested under our hoods. Our mind is a wonderful thing when it is properly cared for by the right mechanic.

By the way, I got a guy. Everybody’s got a guy. My guy is the perfect Mechanic because He built my engine.

Father, thank You for the thoughts You provide for me to buy.

Every Man Ministries

Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. ––Genesis 19:24-26

When I was a kid I had a set of those Bible story books with the blue covers written by Arthur S. Maxwell. I loved those books for their awesome illustrations. But one story that always freaked me out was the one about Lot’s wife. If you will recall, God condemns the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction for their wickedness. Lot escapes with his wife and two daughters, and is instructed by two angels not to look back as they flee. Lot’s wife can’t resist the urge to take a peek, and is instantly turned into a pillar of salt.

It’s a cautionary tale that Jesus references two millennia later when he teaches His disciples about the kingdom to come. Luke 17:31-33 says,

On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.

“On that day” refers to the Second Coming of Jesus, and how no one knows when it will take place. He references Lot’s wife as a cautionary tale: Don’t be fixated on the things of this world, but prepare your heart and spirit for His return.

For God’s man, this means living our lives as if Jesus were returning today. Confessing our sins to one another, keeping short accounts in our relationships, and living each day in the power—and under the guidance—of the Holy Spirit. It means holding on lightly to the material things of this world, and always prioritizing His kingdom over our earthly pursuits and preoccupations.

Lot’s wife looked backward—as did many of the Israelites in the desert, who looked back and missed the leaks and onions of Egypt—and suffered for it. Brother, set your sights on the things above—and be ready for His return.

Lord, it’s tempting to look back at the “good times” in my life, but You’ve called me to a higher purpose. Help me set my sites on the things that are precious to You.

Every Man Ministries

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. 

––2 Corinthians 2:17

To let Christ glorify Himself through us in a powerful way, we need availability and sincerity. Availability is an easy one. That simply has to do with our willingness to become like Christ!

But alongside our willingness there must be integrity. As Paul points out to his readers, “so many” use God for selfish purposes rather than allowing God to use their lives for His purposes. Somewhere along the line there’s a pollution of purpose. Their identity cannot be used greatly; something is worn in their character. They have not allowed Christ to penetrate fully into the depths of their lives. They are compartmentalizing in their character of “disintegrated” on the inside.

Parts of these men are not totally comfortable with truth and reality, and they serve the Lord with mixed motives and unhealthy character. Behind the mask of their Christianity, they are asking, “What’s in it for me?” They are peddlers, pimping Christ for their own gain. They have lost that accountability and awareness of God’s presence to guide them. You cannot trust them.

Why? They lack spiritual integrity. By contrast, sincere men of God are welcomed to apply. These are the “on the contrary” squad of men wide open to God’s leadership, methods, directions, and decisions over their own. More specifically, they constantly choose those directions and methods that will give Christ the lost glory in their lives.

Simply spoken, Satan is highly adept at making relationship into religion. Religion constitutes keeping score, competitiveness slips in the door and relationship slips out.

It’s our hearts men, it’s our hearts. Keep a tender heart toward the love the Father has for you, and let that be your motivation.

Father, thank You for the peace that passes all understanding.

Every Man Ministries

But [Jesus] answered [Satan] and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

––Matthew 4:4

Your attitude about evil reflects your stand against evil. The great men of faith understood this, and as God’s man, so must you. To help you with this, we need to think about evil and our fight with it in uncomplicated terms that are consistent with Scripture and practical to apply. We need to think better before we can fight better.

The “We’ve got Jesus, yes we do. We’ve got Jesus, how about you?” approach is as effective as it sounds. The Bible does not support it, though it might work in children’s church or Sunday School. In fact, the more emotional you are in warfare, the sooner you die.

So in the interest of living to fight another day, let’s replace emotional and unsuccessful strategies with intelligent and intentional ways of thinking about and fighting evil.  For starters let’s wipe the board clean of what we think we know about evil and resolve to stick to Scripture’s direction and plan for how we are going to prepare for the fight.

There was a time before September 11, 2001, when counterterrorist agencies possessed good intelligence about a group called Al-Qaida. We knew who their leader was and where he was, we knew where their training facilities were, we knew how to “touch” them, and we knew the United States was the object of their Islamofacist brand of hatred. And yet, with so many other higher-priority issues, international and domestic crises, and lack of “actionable intelligence,” we didn’t assign enough attention to this character Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network. The world knows the rest of the story.

Granted, foresight is always 20/40, or worse. You can see some things, but not much of it clearly. You can discern a good portion of the picture, but the small details and facts are a little fuzzy.

On the other hand, 20/20 vision is a result of hindsight. And guess who has seen all of history, and has the ability to know everything there is about this world? That’s right, not you. The only way to see through perfect 20/20 lenses is to “put on” the Holy Spirit, who sees all and knows all. That is how we confront the enemy; that is how we advance each day in a wicked world. We learn from Scripture and how the Lord dealt with it. Jesus fought Satan with the Word of God and the truth of His kingdom reality. And so must we. Be sober-minded, invite the Holy Spirit to guard you each day, and enter the world as His warrior.

Father, remind me to never take on Satan and temptation without Your intel. 

Every Man Ministries

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10

When we hear the word “martyr” we typically think of one of two things:

1. A negative connotation of someone who is melodramatic and draws attention to themselves in difficult (or even not-so-difficult) times; or
2. A positive connotation of a person who unselfishly sacrifices their life for their faith or belief system.

When people ask me what is the best spiritual gifts test (or inventory) for measuring their specific gift set, I typically point them toward the Wagner-Modified Houts Questionnaire. I like it because it includes all the supernatural (or sign) gifts, including prophecy, healing, and tongues. Prayer pioneer and author Dr. C. Peter Wagner included the gift of Martyrdom on the inventory, and used to quip: “It’s the only spiritual gift you can only use once.”

We think of the apostles, who save for John the Evangelist, all died as martyrs, or St. Ignatius, who defied Trajan and was fed to the lions, or all the Christians throughout the centuries who have died for their faith. (If you are interested in hearing their stories, check out Foxes Book of Martyrs or the book Jesus Freaks).

Most of us will never be asked to give up our lives for Jesus, though there are many believers around the world who continue to do just that. This includes Christ-followers in places like ISIS-controlled Iraq and Syria, Taliban-run Afghanistan, and other areas around the world that are hostile toward Christianity. In fact, according to World Watch Monitor, about 80,000-90,000 Christians are martyred every year for their faith. And since the resurrection of Jesus, it’s estimated that about 70 million Christians have died for their faith. It’s a very sobering thought.

You may think to yourself, “I would be willing to die for Jesus.” That’s awesome. But here’s another question: Are you willing to fully live for Him—completely surrendered, putting His agenda above yours? That’s the question every God’s man needs to ask himself. Living a life of faith over seven or eight decades, after all, is no easy task. As we all know, getting up in the morning and simply choosing faith over anxiety, distraction, or fear can be an epic battle in its own right.

Man of God, we are all called to be “spiritual martyrs”––those who are willing to completely die to Christ so that He might fully live through and in us.

Are you willing to pay that price?

Lord, help me live my life as a fully committed spiritual martyr—giving each day to Jesus.

Every Man Ministries

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. ––Philippians 4:19

God’s calling to ministry is aided by honesty as you consider specific questions regarding your uniqueness. Every one of us must ask ourselves:

• What are the things I care about most as a man?
• What’s my natural skill set?
• Where do I get results versus failure?
• What subjects do I love to talk about?
• Where do I like to invest my physical energy?
• What are the core parts of my testimony as a Christian?
• When did I feel the most pain?
• If I could do anything for God what would it be?

Our Father wants to use everything that you are––not just the pretty pieces but also the painful parts that you don’t like to bring up. Authentic manhood versus synthetic manhood is a matter of honesty. When you are honest with God, self, and others, you are a free man: free to serve with all that you are, versus wearing masks to hide insecurities.

Don’t you find it interesting that the best-selling men’s books don’t talk about inspirational success stories, but about battles, inner tensions, conflicts, and overcoming obstacles?

Analyzing yourself involves some risk. After our honesty, decisions and commitments have to be made in order for things to happen. Remember, God has supplied all your spiritual needs; He knows us perfectly and will not hold back anything that will keep us from being all that we can be.

Trust a God that loves you, move out with the little beginning faith He gives you, and build that faith with the gifts He has given every one of his children.

Father, You know me perfectly––it would be irrational not to act on this!

Every Man Ministries

This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear. ––1 John 3:16, msg

Sometimes God calls us to do things we don’t understand. That was the way it was when Abraham brought his beloved son, Isaac, to Mount Moriah (the modern location of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem). We pick up the story in Genesis 22:2:

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

Wait, what?

First of all, YHWH is not—and never has been—a God who demands human sacrifice. Baal, yes. The Lord of Hosts, no. But it gets even more brutal because presumably, it’s too late in the day for Abraham to prepare and embark on a three-day journey (i.e., Beersheba to Mt. Moriah, about 55 miles), so he leaves early the next morning. Think about that. God shows up one afternoon and tells you to sacrifice your son, but you have to prepare for the journey first. That would be one long night of no sleep, right?

Here’s the wild thing: Abraham complies—without questioning God. I’m sure he was struggling mightily with what he thought he had to do, but there’s no biblical record of Abraham protesting or arguing with God. And when he arrives at Mt. Moriah, he takes Isaac by himself up the side of the mountain, builds an altar, and waits. That’s when Isaac asks, ““The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Yeah. Intense.

Abraham was willing to sacrifice his own son for his God, but God intervened and stayed Abraham’s hand. Instead, God provided the sacrifice in the form of a ram caught in a nearby thicket (Genesis 22:13).

You see where I’m going with this, right? About 2,000 years later another “beloved Son” will be sacrificed not far from the very spot where God tested Abraham.

Man of God, you are Isaac.

But instead of you dying in your sins, God provided a Lamb. That’s how much He loves you. When we surrender to God’s process, even when it doesn’t make sense, we lay ourselves down. We become Isaac to Jesus’ ram in the thicket. When we surrender our loved ones to Him, we become Abraham—the father who was willing to go all the way for His Lord.

Father, I need Your help as I struggle to surrender every part of my life to You. Help me do it today.

Every Man Ministries

Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.  ––Isaiah 54:2

The ambition of God’s man to become like Christ requires aggressive pursuit of that one ambition. We need to constantly stretch the borders of our growth for the duration of our lives on earth. Jesus didn’t mince words or parse verbs on the whole topic of growth, He said either you are growing or you are dying–fruit or no fruit.

There is no middle ground. That’s why so many of us are down; we’ve chosen to coast in our spiritual lives, and then we’ve found we are not coasting, but dying! We cannot stop abiding in the vine of Christ, disconnected from His process, and have no source of nourishment for our convictions. God’s dream for God’s man always involves personal growth and fruit. He is increasing; we are decreasing.

More Christ, less me; more humility, less pride; less self, more service for others; and so on. God’s process will build us, once we discover that what God has given us to do is not a burden of a one ox yoke. God is not a masochist, he loves us, and when we trust Him we make this discovery.

God’s man prays the brave prayers of continual growth. Prayers like Job’s emerge when he opens his life up to God’s inspection and gives his Maker freedom to wire his life. He keeps moving the borders, giving God more and more freedom to change him.

We are not on this earth by accident. God created each of us as unique as a snow flake. He has given you and me a purpose; there is meaning to what God has created. God is the essence of wisdom; all He asks is that we trust Him to extend our borders and continue to experience His process.

Father, You are awesome! Your wisdom is astounding––and I wholeheartedly  trust You!

Every Man Ministries

Jesus took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”  ––Matthew 26:37-39

I admit it. I’m a card-carrying Tolkien geek. I’ve watched every iteration of the three Lord of the Rings films, as well as the three Hobbit films. That includes all six director’s cuts—which adds up to a whopping 20 hours and 15 minutes wandering Middle Earth eating lembas bread and dreaming of rabbit stew with po-tay-toes. (And yes, I am of the opinion that Peter Jackson could have covered the Hobbit in two movies, instead of three. As Bilbo would say, it felt like butter scraped over too much bread.)

So it’s no surprise that I’ve been watching The Rings of Power (at the time of this writing, season 2 has dropped and we Tolkienites are highly anticipating the drop of seasons 3-5). Without giving anything away, I will just say that there are powerful spiritual themes in the show. There’s a moment in the first episode of season 2 when the mysterious stranger (the man who fell from the sky) tells Nori, a harfoot (distant relatives of hobbits), some words of wisdom about her homesickness:

“Strange how that which is left behind can be the heaviest burden to carry.”

This hit true with me. In the past few years, Chrissy and I have lost three family members unexpectedly—two to suicide and more recently, one to a tragic accident. And despite our deep comfort in knowing that they are all now with Jesus, the burden of grief continues. It’s funny how we (Americans) are kind of expected to “get back to normal” within a few weeks or months after someone close to us dies. But grief doesn’t work that way. It has its own timetable, and it affects everyone differently.

Man of God, what burden or grief are you carrying today from your past? The death of a family member? Of a marriage? A friendship? Your financial foundation? Your health? A prodigal child?

What have you left behind that continues to be a burden to carry? A career path that never materialized? An addiction for which you are still suffering the consequences? Jesus knows; He walks beside you today. Give him access to your grief or burden and let Him lighten your load.

Father, help me lay down at Your feet the burdens I still carry from my past.

Every Man Ministries