Devotions

why and where

Posted on February 8, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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why and where

Psalm 42:9-10 (JDV)

Psalm 42:9 I will say to God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk around in darkness because of the enemy’s oppression?”

Psalm 42:10 My rivals [1] taunt me, as if crushing my bones, while all day long they are saying to me, “Where is your God?”

why and where

The psalmist remembers times when he felt the Lord’s presence – times when everything was just right. But those times seem to have receded into the background of the past. All he sees now is his problems. He wakes in the middle of the night and cannot sleep because a new problem presents itself which does not have the resources to solve.

And all the while he wonders if he will ever get back to where he was. God seems to have forgotten him, and his rivals keep pointing that out, so it is hard for him to ignore it.

The “why” question is a guilt producer. The assumption behind the question is that there is something I have done that has changed my relationship with God.

The answer to the “why” question is that our God is faithful to his children. He will never leave us or forsake us.

The “where” question builds upon that guilt. The assumption behind it is that if I can only go somewhere else, do something else, or get back to where I once was then my problems would be solved.

The answer to the “where” question is that our God is faithful to his children. He will never leave us or forsake us. Sometimes we leave him, and we need to return to him in repentance and faith. Other times, we go through tough times to refine us, and God is always present with us in those times, like a potter shaping the clay.

Lord, help us to work through the “why” and “where” questions, and emerge with a confident, mature trust in you.

________________

1צָרָר = rival. Psalm 42:10; 69:19.

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waterfalls and waves

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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waterfalls and waves

Psalm 42:7-8 (JDV)

Psalm 42:7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have swept over me.

Psalm 42:8 Yahveh will send his faithful love by day; his song will be with me in the night – a prayer to the God of my life.

waterfalls and waves

As I write this, I remember living in a small village in New England, beside a river. That river could be reduced to a tiny brook one day, but be a raging flood the next. Many times I thought that the river would overflow its banks in the night, and my family would be swept away without our even knowing what was happening. Such was the power of the flowing water.

The psalmist pictured the faithful love of God as waterfalls and waves. They are majestic, yet massive. The most memorable thing about them is that they are always there, just flowing. Day and night, the psalmist will remember that God’s faithful covenant love is there with him, just like the flowing water.

Lord, thank you for your faithful love.

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not even close

Posted on February 6, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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not even close

Psalm 42:6 (JDV)

My throat is melting away; that is why I remember you from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

not even close

I’ve lived in a number of places in the world which the locals call “God’s country.” They cannot image it getting any better than where they are. John Denver was at least a little closer to the truth when he sang about West Virginia being “almost heaven.”

The psalmist was in a place that only reminded him of what he had lost. He tried to cultivate an awareness of God’s presence all around him in the mountains of Hermon and Mizar, and it was hard. He was used to worshiping God at Jerusalem, of the joys of Mount Zion.

Where he was he could not call “almost heaven.” It was not even close. But he had to get his mind off his location and circumstances and remember that God is everywhere, and he never changes.

Lord, thank you that no matter where we are, you are with us. We want to feast upon your abundance, and warm ourselves on your power – right here, right now.

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things are bad, but

Posted on February 5, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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things are bad, but

Psalm 42:5 (JDV)

Why, my throat, are you melting away?¹ Why are you in such uproar? Put your hope in God, because I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.

things are bad, but

Things are bad. Is that reason to give up? Of course not. Nothing can be so bad that it cannot get better. He is our Savior and our God, so there is every reason to put our hope in him, trusting that his blessings will come, and we will still praise him.

Lord, we acknowledge that things are bad, but you are good. We will praise you now for who you are, and we will still be praising you when things get better.

______________________

¹ שׁיח = melt away. Psalm 42:5-6; 43:56.

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Posted in future, praise, worship | Tagged Psalm 42 | 1 Comment

memories of worship

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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memories of worship

Psalm 42:4 (JDV)

I remember this as I pour out my heart: how I used to walk with many, leading the festive procession to the house of God, with joyful shouts and thankfulness.

memories of worship

When people keep asking the psalmist where God is, his mind goes to the past. He remembers worship so spectacular and so joyful that he did not need to ask where God was. He knew that his God was there, 100% present in the moment.

We need to cultivate worship experiences like that. There will certainly be times in our lives when the circumstances test our trust in the presence and care of God. At such times, we need memories like this – memories that rush us back into the eternal reality that God is always 100% here.

Lord, build in us a repository of worship.

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getting to the stream

Posted on February 3, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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getting to the stream

Psalm 42:1-3 (JDV)

Psalm 42:1¹ Like a deer longing for flowing streams, that’s how I long for you, God.

Psalm 42:2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and see God’s face?

Psalm 42:3 My tears have been my food day and night, while all day long people say to me, “Where is your God?”

getting to the stream

I have hiked over a thousand miles, and I have encountered numerous deer. They like to hang out at the flowing streams, because they also travel many miles every day. God puts the streams where they need to be, but the deer cannot just lie down and cry out for God to give them water. They have to go to the streams.

The psalmist is like that too. He cannot just lie in his bed and cry out for God to come to him. Everyone around him is wondering where his God is. If he cannot find God where he is, he has to keep traveling until he meets him. That is why he is asking “When can I come and see God’s face?”

As small children, we learn that if we yell for mom or dad they will come, but as we mature, we learn that it is not really respectful for us to keep doing that. Instead, we should look for our parents if we need them. The same is true with our Father in the sky. By his grace, he is usually available when we call out in prayer. But, as we mature as his children, there will be times when he expects us to come to him.
Lord, we thirst for your presence. Show us how to get to where you are!

___________________

¹ superscription: “For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.”

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Caesar’s household

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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Caesar’s household

Philippians 4:21-23 (JDV)

Philippians 4:21 Greet every devotee in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings.

Philippians 4:22 All the devotees send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.

Philippians 4:23 The favor of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your breath.

Caesar’s householdPaul’s closing greeting is more than a polite farewell. It is a quiet declaration that the gospel has continued to advance in places where no one expected it to take root. The believers who send greetings are not from comfortable congregations or familiar mission fields. They are members of the community in which Paul is being held—people who have come to faith because Paul was detained, not in spite of it. Whatever strategy the Adversary imagined, whatever hope there was of silencing the apostle by locking him away, the plan has failed. The gospel has slipped past the bars, entered the halls of power, and taken hold in the very household of Caesar.

Paul’s imprisonment has not severed his connection to the churches. It has not halted his ministry. It has not diminished his influence. He remains deeply woven into the life of the congregations he loves, and he continues to shape new believers even while chained. The letter itself is evidence of this ongoing work—pastoral care carried out from confinement, encouragement written from a place the empire assumed would neutralize him. Instead, the prison becomes a pulpit.

This closing scene reveals something essential about the nature of God’s mission. Human obstacles do not cancel divine calling. Barriers that appear immovable from the outside become instruments in God’s hands. Paul’s confinement becomes the doorway through which the gospel enters Rome’s inner circles. The guards assigned to watch him become witnesses to Christ. The imperial household becomes a field ready for harvest. The very forces meant to restrict him become the means by which his influence expands.

The principle that emerges is not triumphalism but trust. When God entrusts a mission, he also provides the path for its fulfillment. The path may not be smooth. It may involve hardship, limitation, or unexpected detours. Yet none of these can overturn God’s intention. Paul’s experience shows that divine purpose is not fragile. It does not depend on ideal circumstances. It does not collapse under pressure. Even the machinery of empire cannot prevent God from reaching the people he intends to reach.

The greeting from Caesar’s household stands as a final reminder: God’s work continues even in the places that seem most resistant. The mission entrusted to a servant of Christ will find its way forward, and no earthly power can close the doors God chooses to open.

Lord, we trust you to use us to accomplish your purpose, no matter what.

God will supply

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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God will supply

Philippians 4:15-20 (JDV)

Philippians 4:15 And you Philippians know that when we first¹ started sharing the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no congregation partnered with me in the word about giving and receiving except you alone.

Philippians 4:16 You see, even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times.

Philippians 4:17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing when people share the word through you.

Philippians 4:18 But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided – a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

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

Philippians 4:20 Now to our God and Father be glory for ages² and ages. Amen.

God will supplyThe line is so familiar, so frequently quoted, that it has taken on a life of its own. It is recited as a universal guarantee, a kind of spiritual blank check: “God will supply all needs.” Many treat it as a promise that activates itself simply by being spoken. But Paul is not offering a formula. He is not handing out a slogan to be used in prayers as if repetition could force God’s hand. He is speaking to a specific congregation about a specific situation, and his confidence rests on something concrete: their demonstrated generosity.

The Philippian believers had supported Paul when others hesitated. They sent help when he was hungry, when he was imprisoned, when he had no way to provide for himself. They cared for the needs of the missionary team God had sent out with the gospel. Their giving was not theoretical. It was sacrificial, consistent, and costly. They did not wait for ideal circumstances. They did not give only when it was convenient. They gave because they believed in the mission and loved the messenger.

This is why Paul can speak with such assurance. He is not making a general statement about how God treats all believers in all circumstances. He is affirming what he knows to be true about God’s character in response to the Philippians’ faithfulness. They had poured themselves out for the sake of the gospel, and Paul is convinced that God will pour back into them everything they need. Their generosity toward God’s work becomes the soil in which God’s provision grows. The promise is tied to partnership.

This does not diminish God’s care for all believers. It simply honors the context. Paul is not encouraging a passive expectation that God will supply needs regardless of commitment or participation in the mission. He is recognizing a spiritual pattern: those who invest in the work of the gospel become participants in the flow of God’s provision. Their giving aligns them with God’s purposes, and God delights to sustain those who sustain his servants.

So the question is not whether the verse is true. It is whether the conditions that made it true for the Philippians are present. Paul’s gentle test cuts through sentimentality and self‑deception. It is not meant to shame but to clarify. If the promise is being claimed, the evidence of partnership should be visible. In other words: check the check stubs.

Lord, make us a people who consistently support your missions work.

1ἀρχή = first.

2αἰών = age.

able to cope

Posted on January 31, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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able to cope

Philippians 4:10-14 (JDV)

Philippians 4:10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it.
Philippians 4:11 I don’t say this due to my need, because I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself.
Philippians 4:12 I know both how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content – whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.
Philippians 4:13 I am able to cope with all things through him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:14 On the other hand, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.

able to cope

The text has been stretched so far by prosperity‑gospel interpreters that its original shape is almost unrecognizable. Paul is not urging believers to visualize success, expand their ambitions, or imagine themselves capable of limitless achievement. Nothing in his words suggests personal empowerment, self‑actualization, or triumphant self‑confidence. The tone is not boastful. It is grateful. The context is not a motivational speech. It is a missionary’s thank‑you letter.

Paul writes from a place of real vulnerability. There were seasons when ministry flourished, when he could preach freely, travel widely, and support himself honorably through tent‑making. In those years he experienced the dignity of providing for his own needs while pouring himself into the congregations he served. But there were also long stretches when circumstances stripped away that independence. Imprisonment cut off his ability to work. Ancient prisons did not supply food or clothing. Survival depended entirely on the generosity of friends and the faithfulness of supporting congregations. The Philippians stepped into that gap. They sent coworkers, financial gifts, and practical help. Their partnership kept him alive.

This is the setting in which Paul speaks of doing “all things.” The phrase does not describe boundless capability. It describes endurance. It reflects a man who has learned to live with open hands, receiving abundance without pride and scarcity without despair. God had schooled him in contentment, not by shielding him from hardship but by sustaining him through it. The strength Christ provided was not the power to accomplish every dream but the grace to remain faithful in every circumstance.

Paul’s gratitude flows from this lived experience. He recognizes that God’s provision often arrives through the hands of God’s people. The Philippians’ generosity became the means by which Christ strengthened him. Their partnership in the gospel was not theoretical. It was embodied in real sacrifices, real money, real care. Because of this support, Paul could continue his mission whether conditions were favorable or crushing.

The statement, then, is not a declaration of personal triumph but a confession of divine sufficiency. Paul has learned that Christ is enough in hunger and in plenty, in freedom and in chains. The strength he celebrates is the quiet resilience that comes from trusting God and receiving the faithful care of the church.

Lord, give us the spiritual strength that will help us to cope — to be content in times of plenty and times of hunger.

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unlocking joy

Posted on January 30, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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unlocking joy

Philippians 4:4-9 (JDV)

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:5 Let your restraint be known to every human. The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:8 Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy – dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

unlocking joy

Paul’s command to “rejoice always” can feel impossible when joy seems distant or locked behind the weight of circumstances. Scripture never denies that believers experience sorrow, fatigue, or seasons when joy feels inaccessible. Paul himself knew imprisonment, conflict, disappointment, and physical weakness. Yet he still urged the Philippians to rejoice—not because joy is always felt, but because joy in the Lord is rooted in something deeper than emotion.

Paul does not call for a vague, generic happiness. He points to a specific kind of joy: joy in the Lord. This joy is anchored in God’s character, God’s presence, and God’s promises. It is not dependent on mood or circumstance. It is cultivated through spiritual habits that open the heart to God’s peace and truth. Paul gives several guidelines that show how this joy is unlocked and sustained.

Joy in the Lord is not ecstatic, unbridled emotion. It is joy characterized by restraint. Paul pairs rejoicing with gentleness, showing that Christian joy is steady, calm, and rooted. It is not the frantic excitement of a moment but the settled confidence that the Lord is near. This kind of joy can coexist with tears, because it is not fragile or shallow.

Joy in the Lord comes from hearts and minds guarded by peace. Paul connects rejoicing with prayer—bringing anxieties before God with thanksgiving. When believers do this, the peace of God stands guard over their inner life. That peace becomes the environment in which joy can breathe. Without peace, joy suffocates. With peace, joy grows quietly and steadily.

Joy in the Lord comes from dwelling on morally excellent and praiseworthy things. Paul directs the Philippians to fill their minds with what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. Joy is shaped by what the mind feeds on. When attention is fixed on what is corrupt, fearful, or trivial, joy withers. When the mind is trained on what reflects God’s goodness, joy finds room to flourish.

Joy in the Lord comes from following the good example of spiritual leaders. Paul urges the Philippians to practice what they have seen in him. Joy is not only taught; it is caught. Watching the faithfulness of mature believers—especially those who rejoice in hardship—teaches the heart how to rejoice in the Lord.

In all these ways, Paul shows that rejoicing always is not an emotional command but a spiritual posture. It is the fruit of peace, disciplined thought, and Christlike example. It is possible because it is rooted in the Lord, who does not change.

Lord, help us to live right, so that we can be joyful always.

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