Daniel 4
Humility or Pride? Which do I choose?
A relationship with God or not? There is no middle ground in these two decisions. You cannot live having said yes to both choices; in either of these circumstances.
Sometimes we need to be humbled to realize how great he is and that he is sovereign.
Sometimes we have to be proven wrong. Sometimes we have to have something we love be taken away from us. Or something that is close to our hearts. Something we love. Something that might become an idol.
The theme of this weekend seems to be the topic of idols. We all have idols; especially me. But I think it was clear that the conversations that I had with people have revolved around this topic.
One of my prayers this week will be to take down the idols in my life. Or at least identify them and continue to pray to improve in each of those areas.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
10.08.11 - Daniel 3
Daniel 3
Looking at verse 17 and on: If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have setup.
And if we look further: Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
This chapter sends a strong message to me (and hopefully to everyone else who reads this chapter). Who can we relate to in this situation? Who are we similar to in this situation? Nebuchadnezzar or Daniel (and his friends)? Unfortunately, I feel more like Nebuchadnezzar. It is hard to accept it, but I have idols in my life that I want to tear down. What do we love? Do we most certainly love God? And not just say it?
We cannot just say something and do another thing. I am at fault for this a lot and I want to make a change in my life. I want to be like Daniel. He stood up for his belief in God. He did not worship the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had made for people to worship. He did not even choose to fake it. No matter what the cost is.
Having faith in the Lord is difficult. Living as a Christian, we can come to decisions that challenge our beliefs. Just like how God delivered Daniel and his friends, after they were thrown into the furnace, and were brought back without scars, we have to trust and believe that God will deliver us as long as we stand up for Him and be faithful to Him.
I am definitely challenged by what Daniel has done so far in this book. He has done more in three chapter than what I have done so far in my walk as a Christian. This needs to and will challenge me to seek someone higher than these idols. Someone that will deliver us and help us overcome our worldly battles.
Praise God for my devotions. They have been spotty at times, but I pray that I may continue to get better and more consistent. Thank you God for always being there for me and for your forgiveness. I pray that I may continue to grow and withstand spiritual and worldly temptations knowing that the Lord is with me. I will continue being better at my faithfulness to Him. Faithfulness has always been a vague concept to grasp because it is such a deep terminology that impacts various aspects, if not all, parts of our lives.
God tear down the walls that I have built up. I have built up idols but I want to tear them down. Your love provides and will tear them down.
Song: Hillsong - Tear Down the Walls
This life is Yours
And hope is rising as Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would come back to You
It's all for You
Your name is glorious
Glorious
Your Love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in Spirit and in Truth
As all creation returns to You
I cannot shake this fire burning deep inside my heart.
His love is changing us. It is calling us to worship. Why can't I take this more seriously? I feel like I want to try and do the best I can, but I always fail miserably. God. I am sorry. I am sorry for everything. I want to be more faithful. I absolutely need to be more faithful.
Looking at verse 17 and on: If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have setup.
And if we look further: Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
This chapter sends a strong message to me (and hopefully to everyone else who reads this chapter). Who can we relate to in this situation? Who are we similar to in this situation? Nebuchadnezzar or Daniel (and his friends)? Unfortunately, I feel more like Nebuchadnezzar. It is hard to accept it, but I have idols in my life that I want to tear down. What do we love? Do we most certainly love God? And not just say it?
We cannot just say something and do another thing. I am at fault for this a lot and I want to make a change in my life. I want to be like Daniel. He stood up for his belief in God. He did not worship the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had made for people to worship. He did not even choose to fake it. No matter what the cost is.
Having faith in the Lord is difficult. Living as a Christian, we can come to decisions that challenge our beliefs. Just like how God delivered Daniel and his friends, after they were thrown into the furnace, and were brought back without scars, we have to trust and believe that God will deliver us as long as we stand up for Him and be faithful to Him.
I am definitely challenged by what Daniel has done so far in this book. He has done more in three chapter than what I have done so far in my walk as a Christian. This needs to and will challenge me to seek someone higher than these idols. Someone that will deliver us and help us overcome our worldly battles.
Praise God for my devotions. They have been spotty at times, but I pray that I may continue to get better and more consistent. Thank you God for always being there for me and for your forgiveness. I pray that I may continue to grow and withstand spiritual and worldly temptations knowing that the Lord is with me. I will continue being better at my faithfulness to Him. Faithfulness has always been a vague concept to grasp because it is such a deep terminology that impacts various aspects, if not all, parts of our lives.
God tear down the walls that I have built up. I have built up idols but I want to tear them down. Your love provides and will tear them down.
Song: Hillsong - Tear Down the Walls
This life is Yours
And hope is rising as Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would come back to You
It's all for You
Your name is glorious
Glorious
Your Love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in Spirit and in Truth
As all creation returns to You
I cannot shake this fire burning deep inside my heart.
His love is changing us. It is calling us to worship. Why can't I take this more seriously? I feel like I want to try and do the best I can, but I always fail miserably. God. I am sorry. I am sorry for everything. I want to be more faithful. I absolutely need to be more faithful.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
09.28.11 - Daniel 2
Daniel 2
v17-18:
Daniel and his friends immediately prayed, pleaded for mercy from God. Do we go straight to God in prayer for things that are happening in our lives? Whether its positive, negative, happy, sad, stressful, etc. God will provide us with wisdom. These passages (v. 17 to 23) show the importance of praying and praising the our Creator, our Savior, and our Provider. He is not just praying by himself, he asks others to pray with him.
v.23 "He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him."
Daniel immediately thanked God for answering his prayers. How often do we thank God for answering our prayers? Do we do it as soon as it happens? Or maybe even not at all?
Daniel gives God credit for interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Do we sometimes take the glory away from God? Do we steal all the credit?
Daniel also does not forget those friends that prayed with him. When Daniel got promoted, he also asked to appoint the three friends he prayed with. He knows he can not do this alone.
What can we learn from Daniel in this chapter?
Are we building up our own kingdom? Are we being selfish and using God to bring ourselves all (or most) of the glory? Do we pray and use God's provisions for our own good? Are we forgetting those that God put in our lives?
People, Prayer, Praise.
Let's make these three things more important in our lives.
v17-18:
Daniel and his friends immediately prayed, pleaded for mercy from God. Do we go straight to God in prayer for things that are happening in our lives? Whether its positive, negative, happy, sad, stressful, etc. God will provide us with wisdom. These passages (v. 17 to 23) show the importance of praying and praising the our Creator, our Savior, and our Provider. He is not just praying by himself, he asks others to pray with him.
v.23 "He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him."
Daniel immediately thanked God for answering his prayers. How often do we thank God for answering our prayers? Do we do it as soon as it happens? Or maybe even not at all?
Daniel gives God credit for interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Do we sometimes take the glory away from God? Do we steal all the credit?
Daniel also does not forget those friends that prayed with him. When Daniel got promoted, he also asked to appoint the three friends he prayed with. He knows he can not do this alone.
What can we learn from Daniel in this chapter?
Are we building up our own kingdom? Are we being selfish and using God to bring ourselves all (or most) of the glory? Do we pray and use God's provisions for our own good? Are we forgetting those that God put in our lives?
People, Prayer, Praise.
Let's make these three things more important in our lives.
Friday, September 23, 2011
09.23.11 - Undeserved
"You need not be a Christian to build houses, feed the hungry, or heal the sick. There is only one thing the world cannot do. It cannot offer grace." - Gordon MacDonald
Why do we look at the world to find grace? Do we know what grace is? We tend to know what the worldly definition of grace is; being gracious by helping those who need help, giving gratuity, we congratulate people, being gracious hosts, etc. This does not separate Christians from non-Christians. We need to know what it truly means to be gracious. Or at least how God has been gracious to others and to us.
Why do we look at the world to find grace? Do we know what grace is? We tend to know what the worldly definition of grace is; being gracious by helping those who need help, giving gratuity, we congratulate people, being gracious hosts, etc. This does not separate Christians from non-Christians. We need to know what it truly means to be gracious. Or at least how God has been gracious to others and to us.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
09.21.11 - Daniel 1
Song of the Day: Hillsong - Narrow Road
Daniel 1
His name means "God is my Judge". Daniel shows that God is sovereign. God can take rulers off their thrones; God can defeat the strongest nations and turn them over to their enemies.
Daniel and his friends were given a difficult trial/training. This is similar to when us Christians have to go into a new environment where we do not know anyone or are not familiar with anything. They were given a new home, a new knowledge, a new diet, and new names. New knowledge = Abandoning the knowledge of God for the wisdom of men (Babylonians). Daniel refused to defile himself with the royal food and wine.
v15: At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.... To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. Daniel and his friends were elevated to higher positions.
Kings of Judah and Israel caused the kingdoms to fall into captivity by their evil. Daniel could have sinned and done whatever he wanted. He was away from home, away from parents, and away from the church. This reveals Daniel's true heart. He risked his life to be holy.
Do we live our lives this way? Like Daniel?
Notes taken from NeverThirsty
His name means "God is my Judge". Daniel shows that God is sovereign. God can take rulers off their thrones; God can defeat the strongest nations and turn them over to their enemies.
Daniel and his friends were given a difficult trial/training. This is similar to when us Christians have to go into a new environment where we do not know anyone or are not familiar with anything. They were given a new home, a new knowledge, a new diet, and new names. New knowledge = Abandoning the knowledge of God for the wisdom of men (Babylonians). Daniel refused to defile himself with the royal food and wine.
v15: At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.... To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. Daniel and his friends were elevated to higher positions.
Kings of Judah and Israel caused the kingdoms to fall into captivity by their evil. Daniel could have sinned and done whatever he wanted. He was away from home, away from parents, and away from the church. This reveals Daniel's true heart. He risked his life to be holy.
Do we live our lives this way? Like Daniel?
Notes taken from NeverThirsty
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