Men Pursuing Christ

Foundation of Faith for Men

Introduction

 Have you ever wondered whether the life you are living is the one God truly built you for? Deep down, many of us long for genuine strength and a foundation we can trust when life becomes uncertain. If you sense cracks in your spiritual foundation or have ever questioned where you stand, "Men Pursuing Christ" invites you on a journey of rebuilding, strengthening, and finding solid ground in faith. This devotional offers every man—whether you have walked with God for years, are new in your faith, or are still searching—a clear path to build a solid, lasting foundation as a follower of Christ. Men Pursuing Christ is ready to be your steadfast companion, guiding you to build a firm foundation in your Christ-following adventure and providing support as you explore new realms of spiritual strength and enlightenment.

Men of faith have a responsibility to seek out the truth and pursue a deeper understanding of God’s will for their lives. It is only through this foundation of faith that men can be sure that their actions are in line with God’s plan for them. However, in the midst of busy lives, men often encounter vulnerabilities that can hinder this pursuit. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by numerous responsibilities, isolated despite being surrounded by others, or ashamed when feeling like you've fallen short in your spiritual journey. These feelings are common and understandable, a shared struggle among many. Getting your footing in your faith is an important step for men, as it allows them to build upon the knowledge they have and grow in their relationship with God. By taking the time to learn about different aspects of Christianity, such as scripture, prayer, and service, men can become more confident in their beliefs and better equipped to live out God's will.

Men Pursuing Christ have a unique opportunity to lay down roots on a lasting foundation of faith. By grounding themselves in the word of God, men tap into His power and strength as they face life's challenges and struggles. This devotional for men will share practical ways to build a faith that stands the test of time, inviting you to discover what it truly means to walk with confidence and purpose.

To give you a clear picture of what this journey will look like, here is what you can expect:

You will:

- Learn how to identify and strengthen your spiritual foundation using key biblical principles.

- Explore practical exercises and reflections to help you grow in prayer, purpose, and service.

- Develop confidence to lead by example, encouraging others as you deepen your own faith walk.

My desire is that at the end of this devotional, you will be able to identify your spiritual strengths, address areas needing growth, and move forward each day with renewed confidence, ready to pray boldly, live intentionally, and lead others by example.

As followers of Christ, we must have a foundation of faith like never before. This foundation is based on the loving and merciful nature of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His grace, mercy, and love provide us with a steadfast foundation to build upon. But I must admit, there was a moment not long ago when I found myself overwhelmed by worry, doubting if I could ever truly live up to the call God had placed on my heart. Sitting alone in the early morning, Bible open but heart heavy, I realized just how easily cracks can open in ones walk. I remember praying, "God, why would You choose someone who feels so uncertain, someone who struggles with fear and discouragement?" In that quiet moment, I sensed the Lord reminding me that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. In that whisper, I felt seen and steadied—God met me right in the middle of my fear, offering a reassurance that I was not alone and that His grace truly is enough.

With a Christ centered foundation, we can be assured that our steps will lead us on the path to righteousness and holiness. As men dedicated to the teachings of the Gospel, it is paramount that we strive daily to remain faithful in our walk with God. By doing so, we can ensure that our faith remains strong and serves as a firm platform to stand on when life's challenges come our way.

I began this study twenty-seven years ago, but the journey took a turn I never expected. Looking back, there was a clear 'before' and 'after': a long period of waiting, learning, and wrestling with doubt before I found the courage to start. For twenty-three of those years, the devotional I felt called to write remained just a dream, delayed by my own struggles and uncertainty. Yet it's become clear to me that these years were not wasted, but rather a shaping process in God's hands. If you find yourself in a season of delay or discouragement, wondering when or if you'll step into what God has planned, know that you are not alone. Through it all, I learned that waiting is not wasted when God is widening your roots. As Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!" God often works in our waiting, strengthening our foundation so we are ready for what comes next.

One might ask, 'What happened?' God led me to write a daily planner with daily study and even put the foundations in place to make it happen. He placed the dream in my heart, freed up my life to give me more time, and provided me with the computer and the necessary publishing programs... there, everything was set. It was not like I woke up one day and had a vision from God. I had spent a few years studying the word of God and felt I was prepared to write this journal for other believers and me. This daily planner was established to allow busy Christians an opportunity to schedule their day while spending twenty to thirty minutes studying God’s word, verse by verse. However, a lot has changed since I began this day planner journey. Twenty-seven years ago, most people carried a daily planner—in fact, Franklin Planner became a phenomenally successful company selling Franklin Planners. Sounds like that was the perfect time, 'so what happened?' The problem was that my foundation had weaknesses... small cracks, big cracks, sections watered down, and sections missing. To say that my foundation was not very strong would be an understatement. One might ask, 'Why would God use someone who was so weak?' Well, that is a question I have asked myself over the past twenty-seven years. Then I think about the men that God used, like:

Moses- Exodus 3:11 “But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" Exodus 4:10 Moses said to the LORD, "Pardon your servant, LORD. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."

Reflecting on how God often works through our personal imperfections, I think about the story of Moses. Despite his initial reluctance and doubts about his ability to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, God was patient with him and provided him support through Aaron. Like Moses, my journey was long and fraught with personal challenges, but God used my shortcomings and hesitation to teach me patience and reliance on His plan. In moments of fear and inadequacy, I doubted my capabilities, questioning whether I was truly meant for this path. If I'm honest, my inner thoughts sometimes took shape in exact words like, "God, how can I possibly do this?" or "I am not strong enough, I am not wise enough." At other times, the protest sounded like, "If people knew how uncertain I am, they would wonder why I am even trying." In those very moments, however, God would quietly respond in my heart: "I will go with you," or "My grace is sufficient for you," or simply, "You are not alone." These gentle answers did not erase my doubts overnight, but they did give me the courage to take the next step. I believe many men know this internal conversation all too well, believing they lack what it takes or that their imperfections disqualify them from God's work. These inner vulnerabilities were also the birthplace of courage as I decided to trust and obey. It is in these moments of doubt and fear that God's grace becomes most evident, reminding us that our stumbles are spaces where grace abounds and His presence is unfaltering. Just as Moses eventually embraced his calling and led his people to freedom, I, too, found the strength to pursue the path laid out for me, trusting that God uses imperfect people to fulfill His perfect plans.

Gideon-Judges 6:15 "Pardon me, my LORD," Gideon replied, "but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

Even when you feel to small or insignificant, Gods strength is greater than your status.

Jonah- Jonah 1:3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.

Take a moment and reflect: Is there an area in your life where you’re turning away from God’s direction, intentionally or simply out of habit? Pause and consider-what is the “Tarshish” you are sailing toward instead of embracing God’s calling? Maybe for you Tarshish looks like pouring yourself into career ambitions at the expense of your family or numbing your restlessness with endless scrolling and distractions on your phone. It could be escaping into work, entertainment, or busyness to avoid facing your deeper calling. Ask yourself honestly: Are you avoiding a difficult conversation, a new step of faith, or a commitment that feels our of reach? The more specific you can get about your own Tarshish, the more clearly you will see the way back. Invite God into those places and let Him reveal where He is calling you to return and follow Him with greater trust.

David-1 Samuel 16:10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!”

Isiah-Isaiah 6:5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

All these men had one thing in common: the call from God. It appears they thought God might have chosen someone more qualified to accomplish His plan. What has always stood out to me is how God takes ordinary people, sometimes the most overlooked or unlikely, and uses them to do extraordinary things. Maybe ordinary people know they can't do it without God. But what if feeling ordinary is exactly what God desires? Sometimes it seems that God uses everyday men for His biggest purposes. He chose a group of seemingly nobody, and yet they would change the world.

This is the rally cry at the heart of these pages: Ordinary Men, Extraordinary God. Let these words echo in your soul as you read this devotional. Ordinary Men, Extraordinary God. This is your call. This is your story. Take it up boldly as your identity and your banner throughout this journey. God’s strength shows brightest in everyday sleeves. Remember, your ordinariness is the perfect canvas for God’s power. 

With King David, we find that his own father was not sure his youngest son would be the right choice. However, we notice that David was God's choice. One could conclude that God used these men despite their lack of total faith in themselves. They all needed one thing: “The Strength that God would give them to overcome their weaknesses.”

You see, all our foundations have something in common: our own weaknesses. All our foundations have flaws that need to be fixed or completed. If you are not careful, you can use them as excuses not to move forward with God’s calling on your life. Let me ask you gently: Which flaw in your foundation have you explained away the longest? This question can open the door to deeper honesty with ourselves and with God, inviting us to name the real issues rather than make excuses. Confession is where true rebuilding begins.

There are several reasons why I didn’t move forward with the word God gave me twenty-seven years ago. Through this daily plan of walking with purpose, you will discover these weaknesses in my foundation and, hopefully, be prompted to examine them in your own life.  

I invite you to use the self-checklist below to consider what may be holding you back from pursuing God's call.

Take a moment to reflect on each one:

1. False comfort in “good intentions.”

 - Do I sometimes mistake good intentions for actual obedience?

2. The love of procrastination

 - Am I constantly putting off what I know God has asked me to do?

3. Refusal to face the reality of the call

 - Do I avoid acknowledging or accepting the call God has placed on my life?

4. Busyness of life

 - Have I allowed my daily responsibilities and distractions to crowd out time for God's purpose?

5. Living in the flesh and not in the Spirit

 - Am I relying on my own strength rather than seeking to walk in the Spirit? 

Everyone has something that hinders their walk with God. Everyone at times, has put the calling of God on the back burner to pursue the things of this world. The purpose of this journal is to bring men to the place of pursuing God's calling in each life. We are all called to walk daily with God, seeking opportunities to further His Kingdom and to equip men to become stronger followers of Christ through the study of the Word. Imagine what could happen if every man took up this call—not only finding hope for himself but being transformed into a living testimony for his family, friends, community, and workplace. One restored heart can spark change in another, and before long, generations can be impacted by the faithfulness of one who decides to follow Christ wholeheartedly. Picture a ripple effect spreading outward: as each man learns to stand firm, he inspires others to do the same, creating a wave of disciple-makers whose lives shine light into a world longing for hope. Bringing men to a place in their walk where they don’t just pursue Christ but complete the Great Commission…making disciples of others.

As your next step, take action right now: set aside twenty minutes in your calendar for tomorrow morning to spend with God, open your Bible to a verse that stood out to you today, and reflect in writing on how you can put it into practice. If you have not yet begun a dedicated study, consider ordering the Men Pursuing Christ daily planner or committing to pray the specific prayer, "Lord, give me the strength to build my foundation in You today." Choose one of these clear steps to begin your own journey today.

Start today and pray that God will show you areas of your foundation that need repair or strengthening. As you enter this time of prayer, consider asking yourself: 'What is one specific area in my life where I feel God is calling me to grow?' Allow this question to guide your reflection and open your heart to His

My prayer: Lord, help me to see Your majesty in everything that I do. Teach me Your ways and Your desires for my life. Keep me on Your path of righteousness so that through my life, others will see You. My desire is to love, serve, and praise You more. Although I have spent most of my life in mediocracy, you have restored me and put thanksgiving in my heart. Thanksgiving that you never left me, and through it all, Your love, forgiveness, and mercy never failed. Lord, use me to bring others to a stronger walk with You, and teach men to pursue You daily.

Pause to receive God's assurance of His presence and love.

Lord, use me to bring others to a stronger walk with You and teach men to pursue You daily.

End this time by inviting God to show you one step to take today. What faith-risk will you take before sunset?