The episode 'Speak to God, Not Just About Him' from the devotional 'Solid Joys' by John Piper begins with a reading of Psalm 23:4. Piper examines the structure of Psalm 23, noting that in verses 1-3, David refers to God in the third person as 'He', describing God as a shepherd who provides rest and refreshment. In verses 4-5, David shifts to the second person 'You', speaking directly to God about His presence and comfort in the valley of the shadow of death. By verse 6, David returns to third-person references. Piper draws a lesson from this pattern: it is not beneficial to speak about God for extended periods without also speaking to God. He asserts that every Christian is at least an amateur theologian, someone who tries to understand God's character and ways and then articulates that understanding. Without this theological effort, Christians would have little to say to each other about God and offer minimal help to each other's faith. However, Piper learned from David that theology should be intertwined with prayer. He advises frequently interrupting conversations about God to pray to God. For instance, after making a theological statement like 'God is generous,' one should immediately pray 'Thank you, God.' Similarly, alongside 'God is glorious,' one should pray 'I praise your glory.' Piper concludes that this approach allows believers to feel God's reality in their hearts while describing it with their minds. The episode is a solo devotional format, delivered in a calm, educational tone, focusing on biblical exegesis and practical Christian living. It reinforces the show's goal of fostering joy in Jesus through daily reflections. The content is concise, lasting about five minutes, and ends with a prompt for additional resources from Desiring God and Ministério Fiel.
