James Merritt - 52 Weeks Through the Psalms: A One-Year Journey of Prayer and Praise

Probably no book in the Bible has ministered to more people at more times under more circumstances than the Psalms. These ancient songs have comforted countless numbers of people in their hurts and heartaches for now going on three millennia. I am certainly one of them. One part of one stanza of one song was a life preserver to me as I was about to enter into one of the toughest meetings of my life. I hope this book will inspire many to listen to and live out the lyrics of these songs, which come straight from Gods heart. So many thanks are due to so many for this book.

Thank you, Debra Anderson, for your tremendous work in editing, researching, and organizing the material. We both learned there is not that much out there on the vast majority of these beautiful songs. Couldnt have done this without you!

I wouldnt have a book to write or an acknowledgment to write if not for my precious son Jonathan. His encouragement to get back into the publishing field has been a life changer for me and I cannot begin to repay him for all I owe him. I cant write a tenth as well as he canbut he can never match the love I have for him!

And the team at Harvest Housewell, from one of the finest men I have ever met who leads this great publishing house, Bob Hawkins, to the entire team, they are just a joy to work with and an honor to partner with.

Cross Pointe Church allows me to take the time to write, read, research, and preach in the spirit of sharing the truth of Gods word as widely as possible. Thank you for the joy and honor of being your pastor!

The one who puts a song into my heart every day is my beloved Teresa. After over four decades of marriage, she still makes me hear our song Still the One daily. Along with my three wonderful sons, James Jr., Jonathan, and Joshua, my daughter-in-love, Jaime, and my four captivating grandchildren, Harper, Presley, Casady, and Connor, I am one blessed man.

Finally, I am so thankful to and for the Lord Jesus who, when I was nine, put the melody of heaven in my heart that I awaken to each morning and will one day listen to forevermaybe as a king named David plays one of his favorites to the largest audience imaginable. I want a front-row seat at that concert.

James Merritt is senior pastor of Cross Pointe Church in Duluth, Georgia, and the host of Touching Lives, a television show that broadcasts weekly in all 50 states and 122 countries. He formerly served as a two-term president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Americas largest Protestant denomination. As a national voice on faith and leadership, he has been interviewed by Time , Fox News , ABC World News , MSNBC , and 60 Minutes .

He is author of ten books, including 52 Weeks with Jesus; 52 Weeks Through the Bible; 9 Keys to Successful Leadership; and What God Wants Every Dad to Know.

Dr. Merritt holds a bachelors degree from Stetson University and a masters and doctor of philosophy from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Teresa, reside outside of Atlanta near their three children and four grandchildren.

Follow him on Twitter at @DrJamesMerritt.

52 Weeks with Jesus

52 Weeks with Jesus Devotional

52 Weeks with Jesus Study Guide

52 Weeks with Jesus for Kids

52 Weeks Through the Bible

52 Weeks Through the Bible Devotional

Scriptures for This Week

Psalm 1

Matthew 25:14-21

Psalm 37:1-6

Proverbs 8:32-36

Nehemiah 8:1-12

Are You Happy?

If you have ever seen anything in high-definition, you know how clear and sharp the picture is. The details are luminous and the colors pop. Sometimes I wish life could always be so veracious and vibrant. What might the whole of life look like in high-def?

In his autobiography Just as I Am , Billy Graham tells a story from a visit to the Caribbean. One of the wealthiest men in the world asked Billy and his wife, Ruth, to come to his lavish home for lunch. The man was seventy-five years old and throughout the entire meal he hardly spoke. Something was troubling him and he seemed close to tears.

He finally looked up at the Grahams and said, I have to confess something. I am the most miserable man in the world. I dont understand it. I can go anywhere I want in my yacht, private plane, or helicopters. I have everything I want to make me happy, and yet I am miserable as hell. Dr. Graham talked and prayed with him trying to point him to Christ, who alone could give him real happiness.

That afternoon the pastor of the local Baptist church came to call on Ruth and Billy in their cottage. He was an English widower who was also seventy-five and he spent most of his free time taking care of his two invalid sisters. Dr. Graham could not get over this mans enthusiasm for life, his love for Christ, and his love for other people.

This pastor, who did not have a fraction of what the other man had, said something that Dr. Graham never forgot: I dont have two pounds to my name, but I am the happiest man on this island. When the man left, Dr. Graham looked at Ruth and said, Who do you think is the richer man?

I believe there is a way to live and to die truly happy and then find out after death that real eternal, permanent happiness has only just begun!

Are you happy? Are you happy with your life? Are you happy with your singleness? Are you happy with your marriage? Are you happy with your job? Are you happy with your finances? Are you happy with your friendships? Are you happy with who you are, where you are, and what you are accomplishing with your life? If the answer isnt crystal clear to you, then lets let the psalmist tune up our vision.

I Am Never Happy

In 1835, the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, Music is the universal language of mankindpoetry their universal pastime and delight. The ancient Hebrews had the same understanding well before Longfellow. In fact, the longest book of the Bible, the book of Psalms, is a collection of one hundred and fifty songs. Originally, psalms were not read or taught; they were sung. And the very first song in this musical collection is about happiness.

Shockingly, happiness is not tied to prosperity, profits, or people. It has nothing to do with means, money, or mistresses. The rich and famous can still be unhappy. You would think that someone rich and famous like Howard Stern would be a happy man. However, back in 2007 he had a personal trainer and was in the best physical shape of his life. He was in therapy and was getting his mind together. He was living with a young, beautiful model. He was earning one hundred million dollars a year to do what he loved doing, which was radio. But in an interview at the time, he said, I am never happy. I havent been happy a day in my life. While I wish Howard Stern could be reading this chapter, Im so glad that you are!

When Psalm 1:1 talks about the man who is blessed, the Hebrew word literally means to be happy. Perhaps the Hebrews title for this song was, How to Be Happy.

Contrary to what some people think, God is not some cosmic killjoy who loves it when we are miserable. God wants you to be happy, but he wants you to be happy his way. He wants you to be happy internally, externally, and eternally. The psalmist shows us that the key to a happy life is living a God-centered life.

Happiness Is Found in Favoring the Right People

The psalmist begins with what sounds like a negative, but it is undoubtedly a positive. I love the way The Message translates verse 1: How well God must like youyou dont hang out at Sin Saloon, you dont slink along Dead-End Road, you dont go to Smart-Mouth College (Psalm 1:1 MSG ).

This is a descriptive way of talking about the three different kinds of people who make up what we would call the wrong crowd :

the ungodly

the unholy

the unbelieving

The ungodly have no room for God in their life. The unholy live as if there is no God. And the unbelieving mock God and the whole concept of sin. In short, these are people who will lead you further away from God, truth, and even happiness.