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Welcome to the Lion Within Us, a podcast serving Christian men who are hungry to be the leaders God intends you to be. I'm your host, Chris Granger. Let's jump in. All right, fellas, this is your spiritual kickoff episode. Let's get into it. Okay. So the scripture we're going to look at today is in the book of Psalms. It's the 37th Psalm. It's the fourth verse. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Okay. So we're going to see how we can simplify and apply this verse into our life. Again, for you guys listening, we do this Monday through Friday in our line within us community. Usually I take bigger pieces of scripture, you know, longer, longer uh sections. But ultimately, it's how we try to encourage you guys. So if you're looking for a little more uh just encouragement along your way, Monday through Friday, we do this live. You can join me, you can ask questions, you can talk, chat, have cut it up, have a good time. If you can't make the live, guess what? We post the videos right there within the Lion Within Us every day. Okay, so you'll have exclusive content only for the Lion Within Us members. 100% free, easy way to get connected with what we do, kind of get introduced to how we try to serve. And we also open up our prayer request board for you as well. So if you have prayer requests, we're gonna lift those up and we're gonna give you a little bit of encouragement each and every day. So all that can be found, fellas, the lionwithin.us. As soon as you pop over there, you'll see where you can sign up for the weekly roar. I'm sorry, for the daily spiritual kickoff. Hey, while you're while you're there, might as well sign up for the weekly roar too, right? But uh check it out, fellas, and hopefully you'll you'll be encouraged, okay? So now we'll get into this. We need to understand, first of all, before we unpack this verse, where is the book of Psalms? Usually you can just open your Bible like midway and you're gonna hit close. Now you may hit Isaiah or something like that, but Psalms is is right there, it's before Proverbs, but it's all it's after Job, okay? So that's where you're gonna find it. So usually, midway, your Bible, you'll be able to find it there. And we're gonna look at this verse because when I look at this verse, most of us, if if we're honest about looking at a verse like this, look, it says, delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Uh, we like the second half, right?

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Because the the thought of getting the desires of our hearts, that's comforting. Like they're super encouraging there. Uh, but if we focus there, you miss the weight, I think, of the verse. Because the challenge for us as men, and this is kind of thing why you guys are listening, is we want to be challenged. Well, the challenge is first half. Delight yourself in the Lord. And this this is not casual, this is not passive, fellas. Uh, this is calling to a true surrender daily, period. To center our joy, our will, our lives on Him. And we see it through that lens, things start shifting, okay? And and true delight means true discipleship. And ultimately, and we're going to talk about this in our meet episode this week, but this is a gap. This is a big gap in many Christians' journey. This is a major gap in the church because discipleship is the heart of the Great Commission. It really is. But it's often the most neglected. Think about how many church programs out there emphasize uh the programs itself or events or or even fellowship and all that stuff is cool. But discipleship is different. Fellowship is sharing time together. Discipleship is shaping lives, right? And it requires investment, it requires accountability, it requires a commitment that goes beyond just sitting in a pew on a Sunday morning. And quite frankly, this is where most people get lost. It's hard. It's hard. But I'm telling you, I think guys are craving this now, fellas. I see, I just the more and more guys I talk with at the Lion, particularly in particular, they're they're just seeing a surge of men who aren't satisfied with staying shallow. They're craving truth. They want to be challenged, they want to be sharpened, they want to be equipped to lead their families and their communities better, particularly with a better understanding of Christ. And that hunger points back to, okay, well, what do we do about that? How do we help these guys that are that are craving this? We got to help them understand the importance of time in the word. And I'm not talking about just skimming or just having your daily reading of the word. I'm talking about truly studying deeply to try to understand God's word at a deeper level. Then we need to help them understand prayer and surrendering. Like, how do we be effective prayer warriors and not just thank you, God, for our food or thank you for this day, or thank you for my wife, which all these things are cool to do, but how do we be prayer warriors? Then we need to start thinking around brotherhood. Like, how do we engage with other guys who are gonna sharpen and strengthen us? Not the yes men that you can find anywhere you turn, but the ones that are gonna hit you with the hard truth. Hey, what's going on in your marriage right now? How's that, how, how are things going there? How are things uh going progressing at work? What's you know, what are you struggling with, right? Having those types of conversations. Then we need to start thinking about service. Okay, how do we live out our faith with the work that we do with our hands, right? It's not just one to give lip service. Like, what can we physically do to show others the love of Christ? And this leads us to a bold lifestyle, fellas. I mean, this means we're not gonna hide anymore, we're not gonna cower anymore, we're not gonna just do, we're gonna stand on the word of God. We want others to see that directly in us. That's what it means delighting in the Lord. Discipleship is delighting in the Lord. And if we do that discipleship correctly and delight in the Lord, guess what? The Psalms tells us right here, he'll give you the desires of your heart, but the desires of your heart will change when you focus on God. Because all of a sudden it's not all about you anymore. You're not the center of the universe anymore, right? Because we're focusing on something so much greater. And that's where the real delight comes in. Because uh, this isn't about uh just handing God a wish list and hoping that he gives it to us. No, it's not we don't have a Santa Claus for a God, it's about God transforming our heart so that check this out, his desires become what? Our desires. See how that works? And then that transformation that happens through discipleship. So if you want this Psalm 37, 4 type of life, we have to commit ourselves to the hard work, but also the beautiful work of discipleship. Because then we're not just going to find joy in God, we're gonna find our lives becoming a testimony that challenges others to pursue Him with the same passion. And the cool part about discipleship is like once you get it and you start really leaning in, you have the opportunity to give that to someone else. It literally is the gift that keeps on giving. And just think about the multiplication uh opportunity that exist that exists there. For instance, you disciple someone, maybe you make it only maybe like a couple criteria. Okay, here's my criteria. One, you show up, okay. Two, when we finish, you disciple someone else. That's it. That's the only criteria that should exist. And I think that second component is a big one because that's where the multiplication comes in. Because if I if if we take the time to disciple someone, and then they just thank you, appreciate it, and they put it in their pocket and they never share with anyone else, what a wasted gift. You just wasted that opportunity to help someone else grow in their personal walk with Christ. Are you kidding me? So, I mean, I think it's a big deal, it's a big topic. I'm telling you, fellas, the gut the guests this week's when we talk about it as well. And uh again, discipleship, just to clarify one thing, it's only for believers. Okay? You can't disciple someone that's not a believer. They have to be a believer first. Now, once they become a believer, then they're ready. But there's plenty of people, aren't there, fellas? And this is not an age thing either, right? It's not like, well, this person's in their 50s or 60s and they're a believer, so obviously they're you know, they're they they've they're pretty far along their in their discipleship journey. Wrong. Wrong. There's plenty, plenty of people of uh uh you know, 50, 60, in their 70s even, that are walking with Christ and are baby Christians. That does not make me feel good to say that, but I'm telling you the hard things. So just because you may be in your 60s and you're listening right now, you could be a baby Christian. The question that really matters is what are you gonna do about that? Because you don't have to stay there. And it's okay if that's where you are. It's okay. It's just me, no one's ever challenged you in this way. Well, I don't want to challenge you. Okay, what can you do now to move to course correct discipleship? This is what it's all about. But again, this is for Christians only, okay? So if you're not a Christian, you're listening to the lion, you're here for a reason. I don't know why you're here. I mean, maybe just someone tricked you, right? Or you just think this is just leadership only. And we talk about leadership for sure, but we're 100% are leaning in to help Christian men grow, okay? But if you're not, you've never surrendered your life to the Lordship of Christ and you're here. Hey, I just want you to know. Thank you for listening. And I want you to understand how loved you are. Like God's perfect design he had when he was making everything, he was thinking of you, right? And at the the Bible tells us, just so you may be interested in knowing, that in the beginning, he's he created all these things. He spoke, spoke, spoke. And then when it came to man, he took the time to form Adam, the first man, with his hands. And he brewed the he blew the breath of life into his nostrils. Then at that point, Adam was face to face with his creator God. And the Bible tells us that we were made in his image, and that is just a really cool fundamental truth that we can have as humans, is that we're made in the image of God, and there are no mistakes. No, God made you exactly the way he wanted. And things were really perfect in the garden with Adam and Eve and God for like two pages in my Bible. Okay, because then that's when sin entered the world. Okay. And sin basically is anything that separates us from God. And at that point, when sin entered, that's when the separation happened. Adam and Eve were put out of the garden. They were separated from God. And ever since then, we've had this gap between a holy and a righteous God and us as sinners. And what we try to do, what the world tells us is that what we can do is we can close this gap on our own. Like I talk to guys all the time. Well, how do you get to heaven? Well, I just get to heaven by being a good person. Define good, bro. Like, what is good? And then him and hall about taking care of their family or providing, protecting, and presiding. And I'm like, all those things are really great, fellas, but the standard's wrong. Like, like we're we're missing the point. You can't work your way into a right standing with God. Since we all fall short of the glory of God, and it tells us that directly, we all do fall short. Like, there's nothing we can do. You can't help old ladies cross the street or write a big old check, right? Or you can't even like uh uh get in on the coattails of your mom and dad, like, hey, man, I grew up, my mom and dad went to church, I went to church, therefore I'm in, right? Right? Or or or grandma prayed for me, so that means I'm good to go. I wish I could tell you that that was the case, guys, but it's not. It all has to do with a personal relationship, that personal one-on-one relationship with you in Christ. And either you have it or you don't. So Oprah's gonna tell you, well, there's many paths to heaven. Well, I'm just here to tell you, she's wrong. There's only one path to heaven, okay? So if we can't do it for ourselves, right? We can't coach ourselves up to be just better people, how do we earn, like what do we, what can we do if we can't earn it? How do we get it? Well, what we need is a savior, someone to do for us what we can't do for ourselves, right? That's where Jesus enters the scene. So Jesus left heaven on that 100% rescue mission for us. Came to earth, born of a virgin, fulfilled all the prophecies, did all the teachings, did all the miracles, showed us, taught us, gave us the new path. He told us that he is the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him. He is it. Then he did the ultimate sacrifice, where he went to the cross willingly, gave himself up to be the atonement, the propitiation, the payment that satisfies all the sin of the world. And Jesus went to the cross. This is the crazy part of the gospel. Like he did this on his own, on his own accord, because he loves us so much. And they've crucified him, they pierced him, and he died. He didn't pass out, he didn't faint, he didn't fall asleep. Jesus died on the cross. He was the perfect Lamb, the perfect payment for our sins. Okay. Now, if it ends there, if the story ends with the dead Jesus hanging on a cross, like, what are we doing? That's where most other religions stop. Well, not most, all other religions stop. When their when their so-called founder is dies, guess what? They're still dead. Okay. Here's this fundamental difference. So they took Jesus and they laid him in a tomb, okay? Now, it might as well have been an Airbnb for Jesus. He only needed that thing for the weekend because three days later, he rose. And this is what we get excited about from a Christian standpoint. It's like we don't have a dead, we're not worshiping a dead man. No, we're we're worshiping a living Savior. And that's the difference. The resurrection changes everything because the tomb is empty now. He's not there. Like you may be able to go there. There's a couple of tombs in Israel now where they talk about the empty tomb. They don't know that for 100% fact. But I know one thing: the tomb that Jesus was in is still empty. He ain't in it. And that right there is what we put our hope in. So I'm hitching my wagon to the one that overcomes death. Like, that's the guy I want to run with. That's the guy I want to follow. That's the guy I want to submit to, right? So he came out the grave. He rose. He showed himself. He did some more teaching. He he gave us more absolute, irrefutable evidence that he rose. And then he went to his, he ascended to the Father. And again, he's right-handed father right now. And he and he there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved, fellas. Jesus is it. So there's there's no uh at this point, when you look at, well, how do you know this is true? How many of you guys would die for a lie? None of us. But when you look at all of his disciples, the the core group that were with him every day, every one of them were martyred. They were willingly they they were they died because they would not refute anything about Christ. And I don't know about you, but over and over and over, we see these guys were put to death because they nope, this is what happened, this is true, and he is the Messiah. And fellas, I'm just here to tell you, I mean, this has to be a decision that you make on your own. I can't make it for you. I just know one thing. With without Christ in your life, there is no hope. You have no hope. Your hope lies in you in yourself, in your circumstances, and in the cars you're dealt. But when you put your hope in Christ, you're hopelizing something so much greater. So much greater. You're hopelizing him. And the author and perfecter of faith loves you. He designed you just the way he wanted. And he wants a personal relationship with you. And he's just waiting for you to turn to him. He's just waiting for you to call out to him. He's just waiting for you to say, I can't do this on my own anymore. So maybe you're in a stressed-out season of life right now, and you're hearing this podcast for a reason. Things aren't going right at work. There's not enough money for the month. You and your wife haven't been talking. You haven't been intimate in forever. You and your kids are strange. You don't even know them anymore. You look in the mirror and you don't like the man that you see and you don't know what to do. And that's you right now. And you have not made that profession of faith. The first thing I'm gonna encourage you to do is get right with God. And you can get right with God today. Today. You can do it right now. Listen to a podcast. You don't have to be sitting in a church pew to get right with God. Are you kidding me? God's everywhere. So you could take the step of faith today. It starts very simple. Admit you need help. Admit that you're a sinner in need of a savior. No. You have to you have to believe this. Like, yep, I I'm a sinner. And I and God, I can't do this on my own anymore. And I believe, God. I believe that Jesus is the Messiah. I believe that He is the Son of God. I believe that He is the way, the truth, and the life. I fully believe it, God. I believe in the resurrection. Then you have to confess Him as Lord and Savior of your life. This means Lord and Savior of all of it, fellas. Everything. Your family, your finances, your fitness, your career, everything. Give it all to him. I confess you, Lord of my life. I need you, God. And at that point, once you make that confession, the Holy Spirit's gonna come. It's gonna give you a new heart, guys. And all of a sudden the scales are gonna fall off your eyes. But guess what? At that point, you're a brand new Christian. You're been reborn. You're a baby. And that's where we want to come alongside and help you, give you some encouragement. That's where you need the discipleship. That's why the stuff we've been talking about in this episode today about discipleship is so important. But it starts with your decision, not your mom, your dad, your grandma, no, your decision to surrender your life to the Lordship of Christ. If you're ready to make that decision, if you're on a treadmill, driving in the car, walking, wherever you are, it's okay. You can make the decision to follow Christ right now. And I want to pray with you as you accept him as your Lord and Savior. So, Father, just thank you so much for this opportunity to share the gospel with our listeners. And Lord, I'm sure most of our listeners are Christians, but the one guy who's listening right now, who's not, who's never made that decision, I just pray you just just give him some encouragement. Let him know. Let him know that that uh that he is loved. And Lord, as he's confessing to you as Lord and Savior of his life right now, I just pray a peace that comes over him, a peace that passes all understanding, Father. And I pray that, I mean, there's nothing in my voice that can do to any any saving. All I can do is share the message. You're the one that does the saving, God. I'm just thankful that you gave and that you're using this moment right now to draw one more to you. So, Lord, I pray that they they recognize this to be true. And then I pray, Lord, as they're now a new, um, they're starting their new discipleship journey, that you put people on their path that's going to encourage them, that's gonna help them with their walk, Father. And I'm just just thankful to be able to deliver this message, and hopefully, Lord, it it lands on the heart that you intend. Just in your name I pray, God. Amen. All right, so look, you just accepted Christ as your savior, like, touchdown. Let's go. You should be pretty stinking pumped up about this, okay? So I want to hear from you first and foremost, okay? Send me an email because I'd like to connect with you, uh, you know, just just to encourage you, 100%, just to encourage you, to give you some resources that's gonna help you out. Like we got this whole thing, 10 scriptures to fight like a lion. Like, you're gonna need some things to get going in your discipleship journey, okay? So my email is Chris that's C H R I S at the LionWithin.us. Okay, so send me an email to that email address. I'll connect you with some resources, and I would love to connect with you and like in a Zoom call, just to encourage you. All right. All right, fellas. So the question of the week this week, where are you confusing the fellowship with true discipleship in your life? Like we got we gotta make sure we're understanding them two separately as fundamentally different items. Both of them are important, both of them are necessary, but they are not the same. Okay. Do you need support there? Thelionwithin.us, we have lots of resources to help you with this, okay? Particularly if you just need help in your discipleship journey, you're looking for places to have deeper conversations and you just don't know where to go. This is why we built our community, guys. Be able to have these conversations, be able to study the Bible, to be able to ask the questions, to be able to help each other, the iron that sharpens iron. It's all found at thelionwithin.us, okay? Again, our leadership mastermind. Maybe you're ready to take that step. So you know what? I know I need to be a leader. I know God's called me to. I'm gonna take the step. So our leadership masterminds, check that out on the lion within us. Take the, if anything, just take the assessment. The assessment's free, and that gives you a baseline understanding of where you're at. Okay? All that stuff can be found there, fellas. Okay. Look, come back on our next episode. You're gonna love this conversation. It's a good fun one. This is more of a uh a teaching conversation that's gonna be coming up, but I promise you, you're gonna be encouraged. You'll be you will uh leave with a probably a new zeal for the for the old testament in particular, but with some practical ways to uh advance and to and to to grow in your own discipleship journey. Okay? So, guys, give us a rating and review if you don't mind. That would be helpful as well. Uh connect with us again at the lionwithin.us. Thank you so much for listening, and uh, we'll see you next time. Remember, keep unleashing the lion within. If you're like me, you don't need another book just sitting around collecting dust. What I enjoy is something to help guide me when my feet hit the ground in the mornings. And that is why we put together Unleashing the Lion Within. It has honest stories, scripture you can apply, and simple steps to help you lead at home, at work, and everywhere in between. So if you've been feeling stuck or scattered lately, you may find this resource encouraging. Read a few pages. Take one step and watch what God does with your obedience. Hey, and if reading's tough for you right now, no problem. The book is also available in Audible version so you can listen on the go. So if this sounds interesting, check out thelion within.us slash book or search for unleashing the lion within directly on Amazon. So there's no pressure here, just a resource that many guys are finding helpful. So grab the format that fits and take your next step.