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This article is part 4 of a 4 part series, where we have been looking at how a person’s worldview shapes how he or she counsels others. Before we answer the last question, let’s review the previous worldview questions/answers along with how a biblical worldview shapes and informs how to help others.  Part 1 Question: Who made us or how did we get here?  Part 1 Answer: A holy and loving God created mankind in his image.  *Counseling Implication: We should look to God and His word for answers to life’s problems.  Part 2 Question: Who am I and what is my purpose? Part 2 Answer: I am accountable to God, and I was created to glorify God and worship him forever.  *Counseling Implication: My goal in life is to please God no matter the circumstance.  Part 3 Question: What is the problem with our world? Part 3 Answer: Humanity's biggest problem is sin  *Counseling Implication: Dealing with our sin, others’ sin, and the effects of living in a sin-cursed world s...

A note to the reader: In this multi-day devotion series, we will look to Scripture to examine the life of Joseph. In this account God’s deliverance appeared delayed, yet in actuality it was His divine plan. I invite you to study the passage with me, take notes, ask questions, and then record your thoughts and personal application in a journal or the notes app on your phone. By the end of the week, I pray we will have a greater understanding of how delays and deliverance are a part of God’s sovereignty. The Pit of Despair Read: Genesis 37 Before continuing in this devotion, first read Genesis 37. Have you seen the famous movie, The Princess Bride ? In this movie, the leading man Westley finds himself narrowly escaping the Fire Swamp with his love interest Buttercup, only to be taken—alone—by his rival Humperdink to the infamous “Pit of Despair.” Only Westley’s enemies know the way to it. Within it lies torture and pain at the hands of his enemies apart from anyone Westley knows or loves...

This article is part 3 of a 4 part series, where we are looking at how worldview affects counseling practices .   Last time we answered the worldview questions, “Who am I and what is my purpose in life?” We looked at how the Bible explains that humans are created in God’s image, made to be in fellowship with God, and made with a purpose to bring him glory. We looked at how sin entered the world and as a result all people are born inherently sinful and not inherently good. Even though our sin separates us from God, Jesus’ death and resurrection provides a way for us to be made new, to be in fellowship with God, and to once again live out our purpose. This worldview affects how we help people who are in crisis. If your counselor does not have this worldview, you may be encouraged to seek out your own standards by which to define yourself and your purpose. This month we will answer the question, “What is our biggest problem?” Another way to ask this is, ”What is wrong with the w...

What is communion with God? What does having a close, intimate friendship with the Triune God look like? I’ve been learning about this in several ways, and it’s been more rewarding and practical than I would have imagined.  One book I read last month was particularly helpful in thinking through this concept and reality of communion, or friendship, with God. It’s called, “Friendship with God: A Path to Deeper Fellowship with the Father, Son, and Spirit” by Mike McKinley. Foundational to our understanding of communion with God and how we experience it is the truth that God draws near. God draws near to us, and - in Christ - we can draw near to Him. For the purpose of this devotional article, I’ll focus on this aspect of communion with God: that God desires nearness with you, and He is faithful to draw you near.  How does God draw near to us? In His wisdom, God uses various means. Some means we see plainly outlined in Scripture. Like when we read His very Word to us, the Scriptur...

I washed upon the shores of grace, Spent from tirelessly stroking against the tide. I arrive, thrown by the waves, Collapsed upon Your sandy shores, glittering white. In a moment of panic, sputtering, and gasping for air, Your Spirit met me here,  Right here,  Giving me ears to hear. This place I’ve arrived is mercy’s shore, and yet mercy brought me here; the journey began long before. The tide I strived so hard against, was a grace of weakness to humble and draw me near. Every wave, every billow, not outside of Your sovereign plan. Grace shipwrecked me, Grace protected me, And Grace delivered me from all my fears. Grace restored me, Grace made new - me! - Grace greater than all my sin. The sand in which I now sink my feet, is nowhere near the number of thoughts You have for me. The ocean before me - once drowning me in condemnation - now swells with love and a depth I cannot perceive. My sin cast out there, lost at sea; Because in Christ I’m found and I believe. Now, abiding ...

This article is part 2 of a 4 part series,  where we are looking at how worldview affects counseling practices. Last month we answered the worldview question, “Who made us or how did we get here?” If we have a creator (a holy, loving, and just God) then we can look to him and his word to give us truth when life feels chaotic. If your counselor does not believe in a creator, then what follows is that life is a product of random biological processes and individuals must create their own meaning. If you are seeking someone to help you think rightly about the current circumstance in your life that is causing distress, then think about the differences between the worldviews and how that affects the way they help you.  Who am I and what is my purpose? This month we will answer the questions, “Who am I and what is my purpose in life?” The biblical framework with which to explain what it means to be human and what our purpose in life is can be explained in four terms: creation, fall, ...

The Sacrifice of The High Priest  A Poetic Meditation Contrasting the Type & the Substance Hear the heavy pound of hooves led to the slaughter. Heavier still, the weight of my sin. See a hand, once resting on matted fur, Raised to atone for my sin … again. Watch fingers of the high priest dripping blood; A pool formed at the base of the altar. Behold, this gruesome scene, wrought by me. My sins ever needing a substitute. Know the blood of bulls and rams will not do; For I am destitute of righteousness. Smell the stench; it’s egregious. Yet this is grace. I see my sin, once precious in my sight, As foul, costly, and resulting in death; its consequence. This ritual performed by the High Priest will be done again. Tonight another lamb. Tomorrow a bull, then more lambs again. Costly, continual; A picture of the pervasiveness of sin, Yet a promise of God’s grace toward us and His promised presence. Despite the state of our stubborn hearts and unclean camp, He is here, making provisi...

This article is part 1 of a 4 part series, where  we will look at the biblical worldview and how counseling practices are downstream from these important beliefs. In each part, we will answer the worldview question and then look at how the answer to that question helps shape the foundation of biblical counseling. We will also look at some common beliefs taught in secular counseling and how these come from incorrect answers to the worldview questions.  Part 1 Question: Who made us or how did we get here?  Part 2 Question: Who am I and what is my purpose? Part 3 Question: What is our problem?  Part 4 Question: What is the solution and how do I obtain it? Who made us or how did we get here?  It’s important that your counselor believe that God made us. Even though God created us (and everything else), he is not one of us. He is spirit, eternal, has no beginning and no end, and does not need anything. He is perfect in all his ways and is complete in his holiness, lov...

A Poetic Prayer on Beholding and Becoming Like Christ Jesus Father in heaven, Help me to still and slow before You as I meet You now in prayer, to unravel the knots between my head and heart from looking within and without. I meet You here asking You to use Your Word and Spirit to both inform me and form me more wholly to Your image. Your image is one of purity and beauty, of wholeness and holiness, and I’m in awe. I crave You, Your nature, and to image Your likeness. When I stand before the Word of God, it’s as if I stand captivated before a bust of fashioned marble and marvel at the intricacy, grandeur, splendor, and detail of Whom it points to. I am told that, behold, I am to bear this image. To image the reality and substance: Jesus Christ. To be an image of God, a representative resembling His likeness. Oh God! Looking within, I lament at the immense task for which I was created! Yet, innately I desire to assume it. Knowing my flesh and my sinful nature as a son of Adam, I fear th...

Think back to the last time you were introduced, or introduced yourself, to someone new at church. When you left the conversation did you know more about that person or did he or she know more about you? It’s very natural and easy to talk about ourselves. We are our favorite subject. Our own thoughts, opinions, and stories seem important and worth sharing. It takes self-discipline to not make a conversation all about us. This is human nature, and everyone can relate.  The good news is that once we become a Christian, God begins the work of sanctifying us. We have new hearts and new desires and a new purpose, which is to glorify Him. We are now slaves to righteousness instead of slaves to sin. Instead of looking to find approval from man, we now have our identity in Christ. Instead of seeing other people as need-meeters, we can sacrificially give of ourselves for the benefit of another person. Romans 15:5-7 reminds us that God will give us grant us the ability to encourage othe...

When the weight we allow to cling closely leaves us blind, endangered, and in desperate need of a trim, we can trust the Shepherd Who holds the shears. Photo by  Georgi Kalaydzhiev  on  Unsplash Introduction to “The Weight of Wool”   I’ve been reading a lot about sheep lately. Not on purpose, per se. I didn’t set out to learn more about sheep and shepherds, but in God’s providence, I ended up here. It began by desiring to read a quick leisure book. A welcomed break from the academic literature I’ve been reading for college. I perused through my stack of thrifted books that are more conversational in nature (not to mention, smaller in size). I eventually narrowed the choices down to three, finally settling on the smallest one, titled, “A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23” by Phillip Keller. I settled into a cozy spot and began reading. The following week themes of sheep and shepherds kept popping up as I went about my days. Feeling inspired to journal about what I was ponder...

Ecclesiastes asks the question that the rest of the Bible answers– “What is the meaning of life?” Whether people realize it or not, they wrestle with the same things that the author addresses. Do wisdom, work, pleasures, wealth, or honor bring deep and lasting satisfaction? Can we find our purpose in something here on this earth? Man-made religions seek to give meaning to life. Many do so through the teaching that a higher power will reward them if they do good while on earth. People who do not believe in a higher power will have to create their own meaning and purpose as a purely atheistic belief will result in a worldview that everything is meaningless. There are also many who live in the in-between– they don’t adhere to a certain religion and at the same time aren’t sure if there is a God or if that God is knowable.   I think that whether they like to admit it or not, unbelievers have to wrestle with some thoughts that make them feel uncomfortable. They might feel guilt or ...

I recently finished a novel about a near-future American dystopian society. Although the book itself was not my favorite, the author’s chapter titles were unique and the title above particularly stood out to me. It resonated with me as a somewhat tongue-in-cheek summary of our journeys as exiles here on planet Earth. In a lot of ways our man-made plans for the future are probably doomed and in light of that we, as believers, have the opportunity to be perplexingly merry. This past Christmas, our family of six, who was spread out over three states, was able to be all together for about 24 hours. It wasn’t near enough time but we were thankful to be together. As we make plans to take a family vacation this summer, we have to set realistic expectations. With car trouble, work schedules, illness, and other unknown variables, what is the likelihood that our desire to be all together will be met? It’s probably doomed. If so, will I still find myself being merry? That is the promise of Psalm ...

When we find ourselves in situations that tempt us to question the goodness of God (and I don’t mean when we can’t find our keys— although that is frustrating), we can respond in many ways. The situations we find ourselves in are common enough: a chronic illness, the death of a loved one, financial burden, broken relationships, a distant spouse, unsaved loved ones, and the evil and suffering we see around us everyday. If God is all-powerful, all-loving, and all-sovereign (which He is), then we must do battle with our own minds to believe and be thankful for this truth even when the circumstance right in front of us beckons us to believe otherwise.  Because we struggle with wanting our lives to turn out a certain way, we can respond to continued loss in a way that reveals what our hearts are worshipping. For some, the tragedy of their circumstances with what they believe about God cannot be reconciled. They begin to question God’s goodness and sometimes this leads to apostasy. This ...

In 1997, Ed Welch wrote a book titled When People Are Big and God Is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man. 1 The fear of man is not an uncommon struggle. Indeed, it is a struggle, we may say, that everyone faces to some degree. Welch writes, “Fear of man is such a part of our human fabric that we should check for a pulse if someone denies it.” 2 Furthermore, this struggle manifests itself in numerous ways. Consider the following questions:   Have you ever struggled with peer pressure? Are you over-committed? Do you “need” something from your spouse? Is self-esteem a critical concern for you? Do you ever feel as if you might be exposed as an imposter? Are you always second-guessing decisions because of what other people might think? Do you get easily embarrassed? Do you ever lie, especially the little white lies? Are you jealous of other people? Do other people often make you angry or depressed? Do you avoid people? 3  Of course, we could a...

What a blessing it will be, Lord willing, to bring Psalm 139:13-16 before you this Sunday--on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. When preparing a sermon, there is so much to say, but one cannot get to everything. I'm leaving a small portion of my sermon here on the blog in case I can't get to it on Sunday. What is below is a screenshot of my manuscript. The screenshot speaks to how to lovingly and graciously talk to our friends who may have a pro-choice standpoint. Notice I say "friends" because they are made in God's image as well. They have a soul that we want to see come to know Christ as their Savior. With that in mind, I've come across the acronym SLED. Hope it is helpful! Ben Davidson

It was the end of the week and my paper was due on Monday. I had about 25% of my paper done; the rough draft that is. I had studied and mapped out the passage I was writing on in Ephesians chapter 5, but inevitably things came up and my laptop closed. With an appointment a few towns over - and in an effort to remove myself from distractions in my home - I decided to leave early and go to a coffee shop there. I set up my office-away-from-home and planned to spend several uninterrupted hours writing my paper. I had roughly 3 hours to spend at the coffee shop until my appointment would necessitate I leave. I was nearly one hour in with a lot of work yet before me when I noticed a woman in front of me. From my table I noticed her at the checkout aisle asking a lot of questions with her strong accent to the barista. After ordering, while she waited for her food, she began taking pictures of the coffee shop and menu with permission from the workers. When her food came she began taking pictur...

For some, Christmas is a wonderful and joyful time, filled with family and friends and many fun festivities. For many, though, Christmas holds a mix of emotions including joy and pain. The mix of emotions is certainly true for our household. During the merriment and fun with our two children there is the reminder of two others who are not with us this Christmas. On our beautifully lit and decorated tree is an ornament placed annually as a testament to their absence. Even as I'm preparing this post and writing these things out, the emotions rise and tears flow as they always do when I get close to this subject . . .  The loss of loved ones comes in many different forms and with this holiday having such a family element to it, it is almost impossible to not experience some of the weightiness amid the joy. Honestly though, I remind myself that in some ways, this should not really be a surprise, for even the wonder and joy of the very first Christmas was the foreshadowing of suffering ...