David Griffith – NorthStar Church Blog

Digging Deeper – Surrendering My Walk

David Griffith on March 13, 2026

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16

SURRENDERING MY WALK

When I look at what is going on around the world today, I am amazed that anyone would think the days are not evil or that it does not matter how we live our lives. Paul the Apostle refers to the way we live as our walk.

I am called to walk as a wise man, and this wisdom walk takes time, energy, and priority. So I was forced to evaluate my walk on a daily basis and identify those elements, outside of necessary labor, that were consuming my time. It was not pretty.

My walk starts at 6:00 a.m. with a pre-workout drink, followed by 60 to 90 minutes in my home gym exercising. Of course, I am watching a Christian podcast or sermon, something from Mike, or Matt, or John, to make the time somewhat profitable. I come upstairs, take my supplements, and eat some protein. I have to keep the temple operating at peak level. A shower follows, often much too long, and then a big breakfast of foods that are good for me. Again, the temple must be protected.

Only then have I been getting into God’s Word to prepare for the spiritual battle ahead, if I have time.

You see, lately, as I confessed to my small group recently, my time with the Father has been relegated to “if I have time” territory on the calendar. I am convicted and ashamed as I write this. But confession is good for the soul, or so I have heard.

This does not mean that I do not spend time with my Lord, because I do. I have time on most days, but He has not been first and the weights second. How pathetic for a man who intimately knows the sacrifice of the Godhead for my very soul.

As a result of this introspection:

• I will make my heart’s desire for Him a priority each morning.
• I will nourish my soul with His Word and with praise on my lips daily.
• I will strengthen myself with the armor of God that He provides for the battle against the evil one.
• I will renew my mind so that no weapon formed against me shall prosper.

I will make the most of my time so that my walk is wise and not foolish. How about you, my friends?

Lord, come alongside our family at NorthStar Church as we walk out Your purpose of loving You, loving people, and living sent. May we surrender our priorities and embrace Yours. Amen.

Quite simply, Dave Griffith loves getting to know Jesus better by studying His Word daily and is passionate about teaching his siblings in Christ how to study His Word as well. He is passionately in love and like with his helpmate, Jackie; and is most fulfilled when he is hanging with his 10 kids (3 of his, 2 of Jackie’s, 3 are married, 2 more spiritually adopted) and 9 grandkids. He is a small group leader and a men’s group leader. He is a serial entrepreneur owning or having owned numerous businesses. He also enjoys naps!

Digging Deeper – Surrendering My Anxious Thoughts

David Griffith on March 12, 2026

25 For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25; 33-34

SURRENDERING MY ANXIOUS THOUGHTS

Is time with Jesus being crowded out by the worries of this world, primarily economic worries?

This passage about anxiety hits particularly close to home for me personally. I am dealing with a business situation that I have no control over. It seems that those in authority over me are blind to my pleas for reason, at least in my opinion, and I am at their mercy. I am self-employed, but we all have masters.

I am not handling it as well as I would have hoped, and I am anxious. I am writing this DD just two days before having to appear in court over this matter, and my Father is asking me, “Dave, why are you so worried? Do you not trust Me?”

Yes, Lord. In my head, I know You are in control and not them. It is my heart that is having trouble. I am like the father who said to Jesus, “Yes, I believe. Help me in my unbelief” (Gospel of Mark 9:24).

The problem with my unbelief is that I have been seeking the world’s solutions instead of seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness, and then secondly going to work on a personal solution.

My heart has not been seeking wisdom from His Word.

My soul has been panting from worry rather than pursuing Him in praise.

My strength has been failing because I have chosen not to rest in Him alone.

My mind has wandered to the finite instead of focusing on the infinite.

Because I truly love Jesus, I will believe God’s Word where He says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?” Psalm 27:1, and the rest of the Psalm.

Please come to my aid, and to the aid of Your children who are in need today. Amen.

Digging Deeper – Surrendering My Sin

David Griffith on March 11, 2026

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they (unbelievers) are saying, “Peace and Safety!” Then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they will not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6

SURRENDERING MY SIN

Is time with Jesus each day taking a back seat to worldly priorities?

Here, Paul the Apostle is reminding the church at Thessalonica that there is a difference between His children and the world. We are to be sober minded about the time that remains to serve Him and to know Him. The two go hand in hand, do they not? The better I know Him, the more I want to serve Him.

Why? Because the better I know Him, the more I love Him. And who does not want to serve someone they truly love?

Jesus invites me to spend my time with Him in His light. Think about that for a moment. There are so many dark places where my mind can go and where my time can be spent. If I choose to spend my time there, then I am choosing to be caught off guard at His coming.

But I am not of the darkness, and neither are you. We, brothers and sisters, are of the light because He has drawn us into His light.

Is my heart thrilled by the light of His Word each day?

Is my soul stirred and warmed by the fire of praise?

Is my inner strength sufficient for what He has called me to do?

Is my mind’s eye fixed on the light of His glory?

If I truly love Jesus, why do I sometimes still yearn for the darkness?

Holy Spirit, pursue me with the light of Your glory so that I may shun the darkness. Amen.

Digging Deeper – Surrendering My Years

David Griffith on March 10, 2026

As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years, yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; for soon it is gone and we fly away. 11 Who understands the power of Thine anger, and Thy fury, according to the fear that is due Thee? 12 So teach us to number our days, that we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:10-12

SURRENDERING MY YEARS

Is time with Jesus a priority on my schedule each day?

In this Psalm, I am reminded of just how brief our life truly is. My father died two months shy of his 80th birthday. That was almost nine years ago, and it still seems like yesterday. What he left behind was not much to show for 63 years of labor, toil, and life.

And I am concerned that I have not yet fully learned that lesson of numbering my days so that I may grow in wisdom every day.

My ultimate goal each day is to love God and love people, but my calendar does not always support that goal. If I were put on trial for spending too much time with Jesus, would there be enough evidence to convict me?

Do I have a holy fear of God? Do I understand His wrath and fury, not toward me, whom He has saved, but toward the things of this world that separate me from Him? Do you?

Is my heart changing toward Him because of time in His Word?

Is my soul on fire with praise when I engage my Savior in prayerful dialogue?

Is my strength growing as I give to those in need and fast in holiness?

Is my mind being renewed daily through all of the above?

Or am I just drifting through life, content to simply be “one of the kids”?

If I truly love Jesus, I will ask myself these questions regularly, with a humble heart and a contrite spirit.

Lord, teach me to number my days so that I may present to You a heart of wisdom. Amen.

Digging Deeper – Surrendering Our Priorities

David Griffith on March 9, 2026

And it came about that while He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” And He stretched out His hand, and touched him saying, “I am willing, be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him. And He ordered him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.” But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and great multitudes were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

Luke 5:12-16

SURRENDERING OUR PRIORITIES

Is Jesus on my schedule every day for a little personal time?

During this week, we will study together how to prioritize time with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and how doing so will free us to love people and live sent.

In the passage above, Jesus shows us, as His children, how to use our time wisely in the midst of unimaginable pressure and demands, caring for the one and the many, while still making time for His Father. We will also consider how to lead lives that are pleasing to the Father, with a prescription for success that comes straight from an interaction with Jesus.

When asked what the secret was to eternal life, Jesus responded to the lawyer asking the question, “What does the Law of Moses say?”

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

In reality, this verse, along with the companion verses in Gospel of Matthew 22:37-39 and Gospel of Mark 12:30-31, may be among the most important verses in all of Scripture. Jesus is being asked, partly out of curiosity and partly as a test, “How then shall I live?” Jesus takes the Ten Commandments and summarizes them into two parts: the first four commands, which concern how we relate to God, and the last six commands, which concern how we relate to people. He states them plainly in two simple principles: Love God. Love People.

When I make decisions based on these two principles, I make very few bad decisions.

Will doing this cause my love for God to grow? Yes? Then do it.

Will doing this hurt those I love? Yes? Then do not do it.

It seems easy enough, but is it? Actually, why is it not?

I believe, from personal experience, that the reason I do not always make righteous decisions is because I am not spending enough time with my Father in His Word. I am not renewing my mind (Romans 12:2). This affects my heart relationship with Him.

I believe I am not spending enough time in solitude, prayer, and praise (Luke 5:16). This affects my soul.

I am not spending my time looking for those I can serve in the name of Jesus. This affects my spiritual strength.

Altogether, I am not spending my day renewing my mind. What I put into my mind is what I will eventually pour out into the world God has placed me in.

Father, help me truly see and believe that my time with You every day is the most profitable investment I can make. It will make all my other interactions and decisions more fruitful. Amen.

Digging Deeper – What is Expected of the Newborn?

David Griffith on December 19, 2025

And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of the great joy which shall be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 2:8-11 (NASB)

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THE NEWBORN?

God sent His only Son (John 3:16), not to judge the world (John 3:17), but to save the nations from an eternity of separation from Him. This process is called being born again. So what does God the Father expect from His newborns? Is it perfection from day one? If the metaphor holds true (and it does), then the only thing God expects from His new creations is belief, and dirty diapers. Pretty simple, really. It is also pretty natural. I have never met anyone who did not believe that their father was actually their father and did not have a desire to please him. I have also not met anyone who did not mess up during the growing and maturing process and was not subjected to the loving correction of that good father. And good fathers love spending time with their children, just as children can’t wait to spend time with their fathers. It is the father and son, and daddy and daughter, relationship that continues to grow throughout our lives.

Another two-dollar word for this process of maturation is called progressive sanctification (okay, two two-dollar words).

It is no different in the spiritual realm of this Father and child relationship we now find ourselves in. Our Father wants to spend time with us so that He can impart His love and His wisdom and understanding into our lives. Why? So that we can impact a lost and dying world, so that the world we live in can see the Father in us. And as we spend more time with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we experience God’s loving care more and more deeply, and that makes us want to spend more and more time with Him. God loves when we do that, versus when we do spiritual stuff out of obligation or duty. He wants our presence, not our sacrifice. (Read Luke 10:38-42 about Mary and Martha.)

After we are born again, our lives are a long-term maturation process in which God is molding us into the image of His Son (read the first three chapters of Ephesians). We are literally becoming like Jesus. And we will mess up, just like all kids do. But my mistakes cannot outpace God’s mercy. His grace is always sufficient to overcome my sin. After all, God sent His Son into the world as a Savior of my soul… and yours too (John 3:17).

Have a glorious Christmas, Northstar Family!

Digging Deeper – But How Does God Change the Heart of Man?

David Griffith on December 18, 2025

Luke 2:8-11 (NASB)

BUT HOW DOES GOD CHANGE THE HEART OF MAN?

This is perhaps the most misunderstood and controversial question in the “big C” Church. Whole denominations are started over this question. So where do we find the answer? One answer is found in John chapter 3. Yes, that John chapter 3 where verse 16 is found. But I submit to you that verses 1 through 15 and verse 17 are far more important and relevant to this question than the more famous verse 16. Let’s read some highlight verses:

Verse 3
Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

This is the answer to the question that the teacher of the law, the Pharisee Nicodemus, has not even asked yet. Basically, Nicodemus was saying, “Jesus, I know you are God inspired, God sent, God something. But I can’t understand what is happening right now, and you scare me. Help me understand.”

So Jesus explains the unexplainable to a finite mind. “Nicodemus, you must be born again. New birth must be provided for you. You must be recreated, but not physically; spiritually. And the only way for this to happen is through a Savior who will bring about the rebirthing process so you can see the kingdom of God (Luke 2 passage above). This is good news, Nicodemus. You do not have the ability to birth yourself spiritually. You need Me. You need the Spirit to accomplish this for you. There is nothing for you to do. There is nothing that you can do. No different than a human birth. The baby has no role until after the birth is complete.”

And Nicodemus was amazed and confused. You see, he came from a world of do’s and don’ts. There had to be something for him to do. Why? Because in a world of accomplishment and hard work (sound familiar?), success in everything only comes from effort, including salvation and holiness. Jesus is telling him, no. Salvation only comes from a Savior. Saviors save. Victims get saved. It is simple and unknowable at the same time.

And then Jesus drives the point home in verse 17:
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.”

The word “world” is the word used for “nations” or “people groups,” showing that this salvation was open to not just the Jews.

So how does God change the heart of man? He just does. Again, from yesterday: if you are struggling with Jesus, then the chances are good that you are being born again. It is not comfortable for the baby in the birth canal. But eventually the childbirth process completes itself and the baby comes out of the darkness of the womb and into the light of life. Do not struggle against the pressure being exerted on you. And do not be afraid. You are not being judged; you are being redeemed by the Savior.

Tomorrow we will look at what is expected of the newborn.

Digging Deeper – Jesus Can Change Your Heart Right Now

David Griffith on December 17, 2025

Luke 2:8-11 (NASB)

JESUS CAN CHANGE YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW

Have you ever heard the comment, “Trust your heart”? Cute, isn’t it? It looks good on a coffee mug or in a picture frame in the den. But more deceitful words were never spoken, at least according to Scripture. Let’s look at some of the words of God, shall we?

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?

1 Corinthians 2:14
But a natural man (an unsaved man) does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually appraised.

Ezekiel 36:26-27
Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

You see, our hearts are not to be trusted when it comes to the big decisions of life. Why? Because the heart will lead us to do what feels good in the moment but is not good in light of eternity.

But God’s Spirit, which resides in our hearts after salvation, is to be trusted. I mean, let’s get real about the heart when it comes to decision making. Is it really the heart that makes decisions? I do not believe so. It is the mind that makes decisions, and those decisions are often influenced by hormones released in the moment. Dopamine or adrenaline makes us feel a certain way, which leads to choices that may or may not be productive.

But the Holy Spirit’s work in my saved heart is to be trusted. If you are not yet a believer but you are interested in finding out more about this Jesus fellow, or the church, or Christianity in general, that is probably the Holy Spirit drawing you to Jesus, changing your heart. And it may have been happening for quite some time in your life.

In our Luke passage, the shepherds were just going about their business. Shepherding sheep is a pretty mundane existence, after all. And who knows what consumed their thoughts on that night or any night. But suddenly the angel of the Lord appears and they are filled with fear and awe. I personally do not think it is possible not to be filled with some fear when the Holy Spirit comes into your life to reveal the truth about Jesus.

God can change your heart (your mind) right now, today.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart (your whole inner being, trust Him completely), and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

If God is drawing you through the power of His Spirit to embrace the truth of the Gospel, the Good News, please do not resist. Jesus loves you and paid the ultimate price to save you. Embrace Him!

Digging Deeper – Jesus Secures My Future

David Griffith on December 16, 2025

Luke 2:8-11 (NASB)

JESUS SECURES MY FUTURE

THE MESSIAH (Christ) HAS BEEN BORN TODAY.

Today we will be looking at how Jesus can secure our future.

Yesterday we looked at the doctrine of salvation through the lens of Jesus as our Savior. Today we look at Jesus as our Messiah, the Christ. After all, what makes Jesus worthy to save us? What gives Him the authority to redeem me as His own possession and to secure my everlasting life with Him in heaven? I am glad you asked. Here is another two-dollar word from the doctrine of Christ: Christology.

So here is the question: Is Jesus the Messiah? Is Jesus the Christ? If He is not, then He cannot be our Savior. But if He is (and He is!), then what kind of Christ would He be if He allowed those He came to save to perish in the future?

Again, let’s take a look at the Book and see what it has to say on the subject of eternal security.

Philippians 1:6
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus (Christ’s return).

Ephesians 2:4-6
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus…

Ephesians 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

John 10:27-30
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.

Here, at the end of this John passage, Jesus claims to be one with His Father. This is Christology.

So you see, God saved us through His Son, Jesus the Christ, because He has a plan for our lives. That plan cannot be thwarted by anyone. And Jesus is, in fact, worthy because He is one with the Father.

Once your life is changed by the love of Jesus, you are put on a collision course with eternity of the best kind: eternal life with Jesus. Do not let the enemy deceive you into thinking that God has forsaken you. When He is quiet in our lives, it is because He is working silently to make us (His workmanship) into who He wants us to be for His glory and our good. Jesus secures our future for His purposes. Walk in them!

Tomorrow we will look at God’s timing for our salvation.

Digging Deeper – Jesus Forgives My Past

David Griffith on December 15, 2025

Luke 2:8-11 (NASB)

JESUS FORGIVES MY PAST

THE SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN TODAY.

First, let’s take a minute to talk about the doctrine of soteriology. This is a two-dollar word that simply means the doctrine of salvation. There are many opinions on how we are saved, all thoroughly reasoned from Scripture, and we won’t get into them here. But something supernatural has to happen in the heart of God’s human creation for them to be able to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, and is even able to save in the first place (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Romans 3:23 tells us that all of human creation has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. In Romans 6:23 Paul tells us that because of our sinful nature we deserve to die (spiritually die). And then in Romans 5:8 Paul gives us the good news that Jesus chose to come to earth in the form of a dependent baby, grow up, live a sinless life, and die on a cross to pay the penalty for that sinful life we lived.

This is the doctrine of another two-dollar word called propitiation. It means to substitute on behalf of another. In this case, Jesus’ substitutionary death at Calvary was sufficient for the sins of the whole world, including mine… and including yours.

Don’t believe me? Do you think you have done too many bad things for God to forgive you?

God forgave King David. Murderer! Adulterer! Horrible father! But God called David a man after His own heart (1 Sam. 13:14).

God forgave the Apostle Paul. Killer and persecutor of Christians. Paul called himself the worst of all sinners (1 Timothy 1:15-16). God saved Paul after he was responsible for the deaths of countless Christians throughout Jerusalem, Samaria, and the Middle East.

Still don’t believe me? Let’s look at God’s Word for proof texts, shall we?

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come (read on through verse 21).

Romans 3:25
…this (Jesus’ death) was to demonstrate His righteousness because in the forbearance of God He passed over (laid aside, disregarded, bypassed) the sins previously committed.

Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.

There are so many more, but I believe that is enough. Jesus paid a price that we could not pay, for a debt that He did not owe, in order to redeem the very people He created for His own possession. Rest in that truth, will you? Your Savior was born to pay your debt… and mine!

Tomorrow we will look at how Jesus secures our future!