JOURNEY THROUGH THE PSALMS pART vii
Scroll to read a recap of Pastor Nates’ sermon from July 20, 2025
Let’s Break it Down
Pleasing God isn't about following rules but fixing our gaze on Jesus. Psalm 19:14 reveals that what we meditate on shapes our words and actions. When we look directly at God through His Word rather than merely absorbing information about Him, transformation happens naturally. Like the Israelites who were healed by looking at the bronze serpent, we are saved and transformed by looking at Jesus on the cross. Our character is meant to display God's craftsmanship, and our heart changes by what it gazes upon.
Key Takeaways
What we meditate on internally will eventually come out in our words and actions externally.
Looking at Jesus (not just thinking about Him) transforms us from the inside out and helps us overcome sin.
God is more interested in our relationship with Him than in our rule-following or behavior management.
Our words act as a rudder that steers the direction of our lives - when focused on Jesus, they lead us in the right direction.
True freedom comes not from being perfect but from looking at the Perfect One.
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5 Day Devotional
Day 1:The Power of Our Focus
Devotional: What we focus on shapes who we become. In our digital age, we're constantly bombarded with images, messages, and distractions competing for our attention. Yet Psalm 19 reminds us that what truly matters is where we fix our gaze. David understood this principle when he prayed that both his words and his heart's meditation would please God. He recognized that our internal world directly impacts our external reality. What occupies our thoughts will eventually emerge from our lips and direct our actions. This is why simply being around church or religious activities isn't enough. We can talk about God without actually looking at Him. We can accumulate knowledge about Scripture without allowing it to transform us. The difference is intention – are we seeking information, or are we seeking God Himself? When we truly fix our gaze on Jesus rather than just religious activities, something beautiful happens. Our hearts begin to change not through self-effort but through the natural transformation that comes from beholding His glory. Our words follow suit, becoming reflections of what fills our hearts. Today, consider where your focus has been. Has it been on problems, frustrations, or even religious duties? Or has it been on Jesus Himself? The direction of your gaze will determine the direction of your life.
Bible Verse
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. - Psalm 19:1
Reflection Question
What has been capturing most of your attention lately, and how might shifting your focus more intentionally toward Jesus change your perspective on those things?
Quote "There's a difference between simply looking at Jesus and meditating on him."
Prayer
Lord, forgive me for the times I've focused on everything but You. Help me to fix my gaze on Your beauty and character today. Transform my heart and my words as I behold You. Amen.
Day 2:Words: The Mirror of Our Hearts
Devotional: Our words reveal more about us than we might realize. They aren't just sounds we make or messages we send—they're windows into our souls, revealing what truly occupies our hearts and minds. David understood this profound connection when he prayed that both his words and his heart's meditation would be pleasing to God. He recognized that these two elements are inseparably linked. What fills our hearts will inevitably overflow through our lips. This is why monitoring our speech patterns can be so revealing. When we find ourselves constantly complaining, criticizing, or speaking negatively, it's not just a matter of poor communication habits. It's a symptom of what's happening in our inner world. Similarly, when words of gratitude, encouragement, and truth flow from us, they reflect a heart that's been meditating on things that please God. The good news is that this connection works both ways. While our words reveal our hearts, intentionally changing our words can also help redirect our focus. By practicing gratitude, speaking truth, and voicing praise even when we don't feel like it, we can help guide our hearts back to proper meditation. Today, listen to your own words. What do they reveal about the meditation of your heart? And how might you use your words more intentionally to redirect your focus toward what truly matters?
Bible Verse
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. - Psalm 19:14
Reflection Question
What patterns have you noticed in your speech lately, and what might they reveal about what you've been meditating on most frequently?
Quote "The thing that you look at the most is the thing that's going to come out of your mouth. And so our mouths have a way of being the truest mirror to what's actually going on in our heart."
Prayer
Father, make me aware of my words today. When my speech reveals that my heart has wandered from You, gently correct me. Help me use my words to refocus my heart on Your goodness and truth. Amen.
Day 3:Freedom Through Beholding
Devotional: We often approach our struggles with sin through sheer willpower and behavior management. We create accountability systems, set up boundaries, and try harder to resist temptation. While these tools have their place, they miss the deeper transformation that God offers. True freedom doesn't come from perfecting our behavior but from perfecting our vision—specifically, by looking at the Perfect One. When Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the wilderness, the Israelites weren't healed by understanding snake venom or developing better first aid techniques. They were healed simply by looking at the bronze serpent God provided. Jesus directly connected this story to His own work on the cross. Our healing—both from sin's penalty and its power—comes not through self-improvement but through beholding Christ crucified and risen. As we fix our gaze on Him, something supernatural happens. Our love for Him grows stronger than our love for sin. Our desires begin to align with His. Our hearts are transformed not by trying harder but by loving better. This is why David prayed that both his words and his heart's meditation would please God. He understood that freedom from sin's control comes through fixing our attention on the One who is greater than our temptations. Today, instead of merely fighting against sin, try fixing your eyes more intentionally on Jesus. Let His beauty and love become more captivating than whatever tempts you.
Bible Verse
Do not fret—it leads only to evil. - Psalm 37:8
Reflection Question
In what area of your life have you been relying on willpower and behavior management rather than allowing your gaze on Jesus to transform your desires?
Quote "When we attack sin and try to deal with sin outside of looking at you, it's just behavior management. But when we look at you and our love for you grows greater than our love of the things of this world, then we are transformed."
Prayer
Jesus, I've tried to overcome my struggles through my own strength for too long. Today, I choose to look at You instead. Captivate my heart with Your beauty until my love for You outshines my love for sin. Amen.
Day 4:Created for Display
Devotional: We often misunderstand our purpose in this world. We chase achievements, recognition, and opportunities, thinking these define our value and calling. But what if we've been looking at it all wrong? Psalm 19 begins by describing how creation displays God's glory without saying a word. The heavens, the skies, the sun—they all silently proclaim His craftsmanship through their very existence. This reveals a profound truth about our own purpose: we too are created primarily to display God's character and glory. This shifts our perspective on everything. That job opportunity? That ministry platform? That relationship? What if these aren't primarily about our success or fulfillment but about how God wants to display His character through us in those contexts? The world has confused calling with achievement, prioritizing production over character. We've learned to look good without necessarily being good. But God's design is different. Like the heavens that declare His glory simply by being what He created them to be, we fulfill our deepest purpose when we allow His character to shine through us. This doesn't diminish our uniqueness or individual gifts. Rather, it elevates them by connecting them to their true purpose: displaying the craftsmanship of our Creator. You are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works that He prepared beforehand (Ephesians 2:10). Today, consider how your life might display God's character in ways that words alone never could.
Bible Verse
Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. - Ephesians 4:24
Reflection Question
What aspect of God's character might He be wanting to display through your unique circumstances, relationships, and opportunities right now?
Quote "You are his craftsmanship meant to be on display. You are his craftsmanship meant to be on display. You are meant to proclaim the glory of God."
Prayer
Creator God, thank You for making me Your craftsmanship. Help me to see my life as a canvas for displaying Your glory rather than my own. May others see Your character reflected in me today. Amen.
Day 5:Peace from the Inside Out
Devotional: We often try to find peace by controlling our external circumstances. If only our relationships were better, our finances more secure, or our health improved, then we'd finally experience the peace we crave. But what if we've been approaching it backward? David's prayer in Psalm 19 reveals a different path to peace. By asking God to make his words and heart's meditation pleasing, he acknowledges that true transformation works from the inside out, not the outside in. When our internal world is aligned with God, we can experience His peace even when our external world remains challenging. This principle appears throughout Scripture. When the Israelites faced poisonous snakes in the wilderness, God's solution wasn't to remove the snakes but to provide a way for the people to look up and be healed. Similarly, Jesus doesn't always remove our difficulties, but He invites us to look to Him in the midst of them. When we shift our focus from our problems to His presence, from our frustrations to His faithfulness, something remarkable happens. The same circumstances that once robbed our peace can become opportunities to experience His peace that surpasses understanding. This doesn't mean we ignore practical solutions or necessary changes. Rather, it means we approach those changes from a place of internal peace rather than anxious striving. We work on our external world from the strength of a transformed internal world. Today, instead of trying to control everything around you, try shifting your meditation to Jesus' presence with you in your circumstances.
Bible Verse
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16
Reflection Question
What situation are you currently trying to control that might actually be an invitation to experience God's peace from the inside out?
Quote "If you change your focus from how the other person is failing you or frustrating you to Jesus, you're so beautiful. Lord, you're with me in the midst of this trial. Lord, I can stand in your victory."
Prayer
Prince of Peace, forgive me for trying to find peace by controlling my circumstances. Help me to focus on Your presence with me right now. Transform my heart so that I can experience Your peace regardless of what's happening around me. Amen.