A Thank You Psalm for You

Posted on September 16, 2025 by Wayne Davies

A couple of years ago, I was reading Psalm 75 and decided to memorize verse one:

“We give thanks to you, O God;
we give thanks, for your name is near.”
Psalm 75:1

 

After meditating on this verse for some time, I paraphrased it into a poem:

Thank you, Lord, for you are with me
Thank you, Lord, for you are here
Thank you, Lord, you’ll never leave me
Thank you, Lord, your name is near.

This verse and these words became a treasure for my soul. I have repeated them countless times.

If I could cry words instead of tears, this is what would come out of my eyes.

Then one day I realized, unexpectedly, that this four-line poem could be sung to the tune of “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.” I had no idea that this was the case, but it worked.

So I’ve been singing it that way ever since. Give it a try!

A few months later, I decided to write more verses and came up with five more. Again, all of them can be sung to the tune of “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.” Here they are:

Thank You, Lord
by Wayne Davies

1. Thank you, Lord, for you are with me
Thank you, Lord, for you are here
Thank you, Lord, you’ll never leave me
Thank you, Lord, your name is near.

2. Praise you, Lord, for you are holy
Praise you, Lord, for you are sweet
Praise you, Lord, you’ll always love me
Praise you, Lord, we soon will meet.

3. Exalt you, Lord, for you are gracious
Exalt you, Lord, for you are kind
Exalt you, Lord, your Word is flawless
Exalt you, Lord, renew my mind.

4. Save me, Lord, I need your mercy
Save me, Lord, or else I die
Save me, Lord, I’m lost without you
Save me, Lord, this is my cry.

5. Teach me, Lord, so I can trust you
Teach me, Lord, to love you more
Teach me, Lord, I long to know you
Teach me, Lord, for you I adore.

6. Change me, Lord, make me like Jesus
Change me, Lord, revive my soul
Change me, Lord, your Word is mighty
Change me, Lord, and make me whole.

So that’s how I wrote my first psalm. I wasn’t really trying to do this. It just happened. I thank God that it did. The creative process is a big mystery to me. I do know that it’s all by grace.

I was wondering if you could help me make a couple of final tweaks . . .

What should the title be? I’ve been calling it “Thank You, Lord.” Does that seem appropriate? Or can you think of something else?

And what should the order of verses be? I like verse 1 being the first verse. But would it make sense to change the order of the remaining verses?

Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Posted in Attributes of God, Hymns, Thoughts on the Psalms | Tagged | Leave a comment

A Short Bible Study on God

Posted on September 9, 2025 by Wayne Davies

I’d like to share a few verses with you about God.

They share a common theme: what God is like.

To love and worship God properly, we need to know what He is like.

Let’s start with Psalm 113:4-6. Here are three verses about our incredible God:

4 The LORD is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
5 Who is like the LORD our God,
who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
Psalm 113:4-6

What is God like? This passage teaches us the breathtaking truth that God is incomparable. He is in a league of his own. No one else and nothing else even comes close. The psalmist presents this truth in the form of a question: “Who is like the LORD our God?” (v. 5a).

This question is not original with the author of Psalm 113. It appears repeatedly in Scripture. We don’t know the name of this psalmist, but we do know the names of other Old Testament believers who asked this question.

Exodus 15:11 – MOSES asked this question.
Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

Psalm 35:10 – DAVID asked this question.
All my bones shall say,
“O Lord, who is like you,
delivering the poor
from him who is too strong for him,
the poor and needy from him who robs him?”

Psalm 89:6-7 – ETHAN asked this question.
6 For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?
Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord,
7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,
and awesome above all who are around him?

Isaiah 40:18 – ISAIAH asked this question.
To whom then will you liken God,
    or what likeness compare with him?

There is one more Person who asks this question.

Jeremiah 50:44 – GOD HIMSELF asked this question.
For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me?

This is a rhetorical question – the answer is so obvious, the speakers don’t even give the answer.

There are other verses that do answer this question, presenting the truth of God’s incomparability as a statement rather than a question.

Exodus 8:10 — MOSES
Moses said, “Be it as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God.

2 Samuel 7:22 — DAVID
Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

2 Chronicles 6:14 — SOLOMON
O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart.

What is God like? He is incomparable. He’s in a class by Himself.

This is reason to worship Him and only Him . . . forever!

Or right now.

Before you do anything else, why not take a few moments to express your praise and adoration to the One who is unlike anyone? There is no better way to spend your time. Amen?

For more short Bible studies, click HERE.

Posted in A Short Bible Study, Attributes of God, Bible study, Thoughts About God, Thoughts on the Psalms | Leave a comment

How the Bible Solves Your Biggest Problem

Posted on September 6, 2025 by Wayne Davies

I have good news to share with you . . .

My 16th Christian book has been released on Amazon and is now available in Kindle and paperback formats.

Here’s more good news . . . the Kindle version is free.

CLICK HERE to get your copy.

Here’s what one reader says:

“Thank you for the opportunity to review your book.  I love it!  I love truth and you have presented it so well.

“What I liked is that the analogies are so relatable; the thorough explanations; the helpful definitions. It is easy to read and friendly–not textbook style. You do not ‘talk down’, you’re on my side; you are real, including your own thoughts and actions (this is a great aspect of your writing).

“It was very helpful that you gave a review/summary of the previous topic before you moved on. It was helpful, too, that you referred back to Scripture you had shared in a previous section.

“How did I benefit? I am encouraged! I know I won’t be perfect this side of heaven, but it’s an honor to be chosen, and through His grace, I can live a life that glorifies Him!!  I am reminded and so grateful for the treasure I have–a life of hope and joy thru my Savior.”
— Cindy G.

The purpose of this little book is to answer three big questions:

  1. What does the Bible do – both to you and for you?
  2. According to the Bible, what is your biggest problem?
  3. How does the Bible provide the only solution to that problem?

Since the subject of this mini-book is the world’s best-selling Book of all time, you’ll find plenty of Bible passages that provide the answers to these three questions — over 100 verses are quoted, mentioned, or explained, starting with Hebrews 4:12-13.

Why so many verses? Because the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible, or as Martin Luther said, “Scripture is its own light.”

We have many problems. Shouldn’t we take time to hear what God says about solving the most important one?

Get your copy today!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FNKQVMS5

To read an excerpt, check out this blog post:
What’s In Your Heart?
https://godwrotethebook.com/whats-in-your-heart/

“Scripture throughout. A clear explanation of the soul/spirit/heart/mind . . . the real me.”
— Marilyn Hoffman

Posted in Book Reviews, Evangelism, Free Books & Other Resources, Heaven and Hell, What the Bible Says | Leave a comment

The Bible’s Greatest Love Story

Posted on August 25, 2025 by Wayne Davies

Do you love a good love story?

Here’s one that I just read last week . . .

Enjoy!

 

“There is no greater love story. The Judge of the universe chased after those who rebelled against Him. People made themselves God’s enemies by rejecting His rule and following their own desires. Yet God so loves His enemies that He sent His Son to pay the penalty for their crimes. God’s wrath was satisfied as Jesus hung on the cross. Through His death, believers are cleared of their sin and reconciled to the God they once rejected. This makes God both fair and forgiving, just and justifier (see Romans 3:21-26). He is just because His judgment against our sin was carried out. We are justified because His innocent Son suffered on our behalf.

“As I write this, it feels cheap. I’m trying to describe something so sacred with lifeless words on a page. My words feel so subdued. So sterile. I want to stop writing, stare you in the face, and scream: Jesus died! He chose the most grueling death to bring you to God! Everything is changed! You and I were destined for a horrifying encounter with God – we were “objects of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3) – but that has all changed! Death no longer scares me! I can’t wait to die! Thank you Jesus!!”

I love a biblically sound explanation of the Gospel. And you just read one.

I also love when people get excited about the Gospel. And those who wrote the above two paragraphs are enthusiastic about what God has done for sinners like me and you.

This is an excerpt from the book, You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity, by Francis and Lisa Chan. My wife and I have been reading this book together.

Does it surprise you to find such a wonderful presentation of the Gospel in a book about marriage?

I was. But now that we’ve read a few chapters, it makes sense.

The authors’ premise is this:

The best way to work on your marriage is to work on your relationship with God. To increase your love for your spouse, increase your love for God.

Something for you to ponder today.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33)

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How to See the Invisible God

Posted on August 18, 2025 by Wayne Davies

Jesus told His disciples,
“Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God.”
(Matthew 5:8)

Jesus also said,
“No one has seen the Father.”
(John 6:46)

Why has no human being ever seen God the Father? Because “God is spirit” (John 4:24), He is invisible. He does not have a physical body.

The New Testament teaches these truths repeatedly:

“To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:17)

“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see.” (1 Timothy 6:15-16)

“By faith he (Moses) left Egypt, not being afraid of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27)

The Bible is a Book of paradoxes, and this is one of them. How can we see the invisible God? If we cannot see God, how can we know Him?

Fortunately, our compassionate God has provided a solution in Jesus!

“No one has ever seen God; God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” (John 1:18)

This is why Jesus told Phillip, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)

Ah, this is Good News indeed! We can see and know God the Father by seeing and knowing God the Son. Thanks be to God for sending His Son to reveal the Father – for only Jesus is . . .

“The image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15).

And only Jesus is . . .

“The radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3).

This is reason to rejoice:

According to John 1:18, the Son has “made known” the Father. The verb “made known” means “to interpret, explain, exposit, or expound. The Son explains God to us through His life and His teaching. The NET Bible provides us with a very useful translation: No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.” (Paul Washer, Knowing the Living God).

Because of the work of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, we can see the invisible God, and by seeing Him as He really is, we can know Him, worship Him, and be satisfied in Him.

May it be so, today and forever.

NOTE: Paul Washer’s book, Knowing the Living God, is available for free as a PDF download HERE.

Posted in Attributes of God, Thoughts About God | Leave a comment

The Purpose of Bible Reading 101

Posted on August 11, 2025 by Wayne Davies


I’d like you to read something I wrote about 10 years ago.

I need to heed my own advice, so I read it again this morning.

Here it is:

For many Christians, reading the Bible is critical. We call it our “Quiet Time,” and we go to great lengths to make sure we have it. We want to read, study, and meditate on the Word, for it is our daily bread.

Did not Jesus himself say that “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”? (Matthew 4:4).

There is a danger to avoid, however, when we read the Bible — treating Bible time as an end in itself rather than the longing of a seeking heart to experience and enjoy intimacy with God.

Psalm 119:2 speaks to this issue –

“Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart“.

And so we must regularly examine ourselves and our motives. I’m writing this to challenge you and me to ask ourselves the question, “Why do I read the Bible?”

“Do I read the Bible merely to acquire knowledge that becomes a badge of pride, a way to impress my Christian friends, a means to receive praise from others?”

If that is the case, Bible time has little to do with seeking God. Rather, it has everything to do with me – my self-seeking, self-absorbed agenda of pleasing others so I can be viewed as spiritually mature, when in fact I may be anything but that.

If this is an area you struggle with, I’d like to encourage you to spend time in prayer about it. Confess the sin of Bible knowledge as an end in itself and ask God to instill in you a greater desire to spend time in the Word because you want to spend time with him.

Focus on the fact that being a Christian is first and foremost an intimate relationship with your Maker. And this relationship, like any good relationship, is characterized by communication between two people – you and your God. This communication must be a two-way street. We communicate to God through prayer, and he communicates to us through the Bible.

God wants to speak to us through His Word. When we read the Bible, we have the wonderful privilege of hearing what he has to say.  And when we listen, with a humble heart and an open mind, there is a communion that takes place that satisfies the soul and brings us into the very presence of King Jesus.

Oh that this would be the cry of our hearts every time we open the Word and read it: “I seek you with all my heart . . . Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain” (Psalm 119: 10, 36).

If what you just read resonates in your heart, let me know by leaving a comment below.

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John MacArthur and His Critics

Posted on August 6, 2025 by Wayne Davies

This post is a tribute to long-time pastor and prolific author John MacArthur, who died on July 14, 2025, at the age of 86.

How many years does it take to be considered a “long-time” pastor? How about 55 years – all at the same church (Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California).

During that time, he preached over 3,000 sermons, all of which are available for free in downloadable PDF and MP3 formats at gty.org. Or you can just listen to them on the website.

Most of these sermons are verse-by-verse expositions of all 27 books of the New Testament. I have listened to many of them on my daily walks in the neighborhood. Two of my favorites are “Which Way to Heaven?” (Matthew 7:13-14) and “Fifteen Words of Hope” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

How many books do you have to write to be called a “prolific” author? How about 100+ and counting.

You can check them out at Amazon. My favorite is The Gospel According to Jesus. This book turned my theology on its head and taught me much about the meaning of the gospel.

For a free paperback copy of one of MacArthur’s books, visit:
https://www.gty.org/free-offer/25WS0009

MacArthur was also controversial. He had his critics. On spiritual gifts, he was a cessationist and received much wrath from the Charismatic Movement. On the Lordship Salvation issue, he taught that if Jesus wasn’t your Lord, then He wasn’t your Savior either. On the role of women, he was a complementarian; I’ve heard him say, “A church with a woman pastor is a church without a pastor.” (For more MacArthur quotes, see below.)

Through it all, he was a faithful Bible teacher. I thank the Lord for him and the way God has used him in my life.

John MacArthur Quotes:

“On the cross God looked at Christ and saw you, now he looks at you and sees Christ.”

“If you could lose your salvation, you would.”

“He loves us not because there is something in us that attracts Him to us; He loves us because He determined to love us in spite of our unattractiveness … It’s a love we don’t deserve, a love that will never end. It’s a love that perseveres even when we fail Him.”

“The dammed think they are good. The saved know they are wicked.
The damned believe the kingdom of God is for those worthy of it. The saved know the kingdom of God is for those who realize how unworthy they are.
The damned believe eternal life is earned. The saved know it is a gift.
The damned seek God’s commendation. The saved seek His forgiveness.”

“God must open the eyes of our understanding before we can truly know and rightly interpret His truth. His truth is available only to those with a regenerate spirit and in whom His Spirit dwells, for only the Spirit can illumine Scripture. Just as the physically blind cannot see the sun, the spiritually blind cannot see the Son. Both lack proper illumination.”

Source: https://www.monergism.com/dr-john-macarthur
This link provides an excellent overview of various biblical topics that John MacArthur has preached on and/or written about, with links to resources, both free and for sale.

Posted in Famous Christians | Leave a comment

Why Is God Good to Us?

Posted on July 27, 2025 by Wayne Davies

Have you ever wondered why God is so good to us?

What are God’s reasons for His grace, mercy, and love to underserving sinners like me and you?

Does Scripture even answer this question?

Yes. Repeatedly.

Let’s start with God’s goodness in salvation. Why does God forgive our sins and save us from His wrath?  Both the Old Testament and New Testament provide the same answer to this question.

“I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.”
1 John 2:12

“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”
Isaiah 43:25

“For my name’s sake I defer my anger; for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off.”
Isaiah 48:9

“Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power.”
Psalm 106:8

The psalmists understood this, and based their prayers for forgiveness on this truth:

“For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.”
Psalm 25:1

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name;
deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!
Psalm 79:9

This begs the question, what is the meaning of the phrase “for your name’s sake” (or “for his name’s sake” or “for my name’s sake”)?

It simply means “for the sake of God’s glory.” In Psalm 79:9 above, note how “for the glory of your name” parallels “for your name’s sake.”

The glory of God is the reason God does everything. He saves us and forgives us because He is glorified through these breathtaking demonstrations of love, grace, and mercy. We get the benefits of forgiveness so that He gets the praise and honor. This places the ultimate purpose of salvation on God, not us. From start to finish, salvation is the work of God. We are merely the unworthy recipients of this incredible gift.

Paul points this out in Ephesians 1. Why did God adopt us into His family? For “the praise of his glorious grace” (v. 6). Why did God grant us an eternal inheritance? Again, “for the praise of his glory” (v. 12, 14).

“But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8).

When does the clay ever get the credit for the work of the potter?

God does everything so that He gets the glory. May we align our lives with that great truth.

He created us for His glory (see Isaiah 43:7), and He saved us for His glory.

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory” (Psalm 115:1). May this be our prayer today and forever.

Posted in Attributes of God, Salvation, Thoughts About God | Leave a comment

What to Do When You’re Suffering

Posted on July 20, 2025 by Wayne Davies

Jesus was so graciously honest with His followers.

The night before He was crucified, He told the Apostles to expect a difficult life:

“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33

The word “tribulation” means suffering, affliction, anguish, persecution, oppression, distress, and trouble.

Jesus made many promises to His followers. And this is one of them: do not be surprised by how hard your life will become. It’s par for the course, even for true believers.

Christians are not exempt from the trials of life that have plagued humanity from the day we first sinned. “Man was born to trouble as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7).

In light of the context, Jesus wanted the Apostles to be especially ready for suffering from persecution. Take note of John 16:1-3, in which Jesus tells the Apostles that “whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.” That type of persecution continues to this day, just as Jesus predicted. Our brothers and sisters around the world face it often.

I’ve known very little, if any, suffering from persecution. I do have a measure of physical suffering — chronic neck and back pain for the past 30 years (bulging discs in my neck; degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis in my lower back). Very common ailments for a 68-year-old (that photo you see every week was taken 25 years ago). Some days, the pain is minimal. And then there are the bad days.

Sometimes I get discouraged and overcome with self-pity. This is a sinful response. I can see it coming, yet I still succumb to it. I’d rather not grieve the Spirit, but it happens. O wretched man that I am.

Someone asked me recently, “How do you trust Jesus when you’re suffering?”

I try to “take heart” by focusing on the spiritual blessings of the gospel, especially the blessings of salvation as detailed in Ephesians 1:3-14 and 1 Peter 1:3-25 (and many other passages). In other words, I preach the gospel to myself.

The more I learn what Christ has accomplished for me through His life, death, resurrection, and ascension, the more I love Him, treasure Him, and trust Him.

I’ve been studying the meaning of Bible words that end in “t-i-o-n” – ironically, these are the words that end with a syllable that sounds like “shun” – which, of course, we should never do.  We don’t shun them; we embrace them! When I learn what they mean, I am filling my heart and mind with the grace and mercy of God, and no amount of physical pain can alter God’s love and faithfulness for me in Christ Jesus.

I’m referring to words such as . . . salvation, justification, redemption, reconciliation, sanctification, glorification, adoption, propitiation, and remission.

I also take heart by reading the works of Reuben Torrey – he’s a preacher from the 19th century whose sermons have been transcribed into gospel-saturated yet easy-to-read books published by Aneko Press, such as How to Be Saved and How to Be Lost (the Kindle version is free on Amazon). He explains the gospel in straightforward language that I find most encouraging.

And I take heart by reading the words of Joni Eareckson Tada. She’s one of my heroes and has suffered a lot more pain than I have. I highly recommend her book, A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God’s Sovereignty.

Lastly, I pray a lot more. And that’s a good thing. I cling to God now. I didn’t use to do that. I was too proud, and He hates pride. I’m slowly learning how to shun arrogance and embrace the God of the gospel of grace.

Whether or not you are in a time of suffering, I hope you find this post helpful. Let me know by leaving a comment below.

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17 Free Christian Books: A Summertime Gift for You

Posted on July 13, 2025 by Wayne Davies


Would you like to read a free Christian book in the lazy, hazy days of summer?

If so, all 17 of my books about the Bible are available for free in PDF format here:

https://payhip.com/GodWroteTheBook

This is ideal for those who like to “try before you buy.” You can check out these books without spending any money on the Kindle or paperback versions.

(Should you prefer the Kindle or paperback formats, go to the Payhip.com link above for links to Amazon for each book.)

And speaking of Amazon.com . . .

13 of my Christian Kindle books are on sale for 99 cents.

3 of my Christian Kindle books are free.

Also, on my Payhip.com website – be sure to check out my latest “mini-book” – it’s currently available only in PDF format because it hasn’t been released on Amazon yet.

But you’re welcome to read the PDF version now:
What the Bible Does (Part 1): How the Bible Solves Your Biggest Problem
https://payhip.com/b/S0PzV

Should you read any of my books, I’d be grateful if you’d leave a review on Amazon. Those reviews do help increase a book’s exposure, so thank you in advance!

Also, I just found out that you don’t have to purchase a book on Amazon to leave a review. If you read the PDF version, you can still review it, provided you have an Amazon account and have spent at least $50 on Amazon (on anything) in the past 12 months.

Thank you for reading this post. Happy Summer!

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