Proverbs 21 - 10.17.23
SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 21:30 "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord."
OBSERVATION: The prophet, Jeremiah declared: "Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know Me."
Even when an evil plan is being devised, God is more wise and more powerful to thwart it! When people propose a plan that is not in line with God's will, it will not stand!
APPLICATION: Fear is a powerful enemy of our faith and a strong deterrent to the believer's peace of mind. Fear of war, terrorist attacks, disease and pollution can rob us of our trust in God, BUT GOD is our shelter and hiding place". (footnotes: Isaiah 8:11-15 NIV Life Application Bible).
Because we serve the all-wise and most powerful God, we have no reason to fear what the world fears. The Lord Almighty is the only One we are to fear because He is the One true God, and He alone is able to give us true inner peace, and is able to drive out all inappropriate fear that we may have in our heart's. No matter what plans the enemy is trying to devise, they can't stand up against the wise plans and purposes of God!
PRAYER: Knowing that You are the all-wise and most powerful God gives me the confident assurance that I can go to You in prayer, any time, for any reason, understanding that even when the storms of life come, and troubles seem so overwhelming, and even when it appears that the enemy is winning... You have promised to lead me safely as I wholeheartedly follow after You.
- Robin Orefice
Daniel 6 - 10.16.23
Scripture
Daniel 6:23 NLT
“The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.”
Observation
King Darius’ high officers and administrators were all jealous of the favor Daniel received from the king. So they plotted a way they could bring Daniel down. But Daniel was a trustworthy, responsible, faithful, and God-fearing man. The administrators and high officers had no “dirt” on Daniel. The only way they could bring him down was to make a law that would conflict with Daniel’s religious beliefs. So the high officers and administrators convinced the king to sign a law that would require no one to pray to anyone, divine or human-except King Darius, for the next 30 days. Anyone caught breaking this law would be thrown into a lions’ den. Of course Daniel, being a devout God-fearing man, knew exactly Who he should fear and obey more. So Daniel continued with his life as usual. He continued to pray 3 times a day, giving thanks to God, and asking God for guidance in the circumstance he now found himself in.
Application
God provides His favor and protection to those who fear and obey Him.
God’s favor was with Daniel from the very beginning. God blessed Daniel with wisdom and the ability to interpret dreams. Daniel was able to find favor with the different kings of Babylon because of his talent and abilities. He was even put in high ranking positions and given great responsibilities from the kings; because even the kings would see the favor he received from God.
You think all these newfound blessings would change Daniel and make him prideful? Absolutely not! Daniel knew his gifts and favor came from God. And not even a law that was put in place to trap him, would stop Him from praying and giving thanks to God. Daniel knew He would rather obey God, than people. And because of Daniel’s faith, God blessed and protected him.
I am so encouraged by knowing that today. That even when the world was out to get Daniel, he held strong in his faith. And even when he was thrown into a lions’ den, God rescued him. “Not even a scratch was found on him.”
“My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.” -Psalms 25:15 NLT
“If you respect and obey the Lord, that is like a spring of water that gives you life. It will keep you safe from death's traps.” -Proverbs 14:27 EASY
“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” -Matthew 10:28 NLT
“Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!” -Acts 5:29 NIV
Prayer
Father God, thank You for always having my back. Thank You for the favor that You have given me in life. I pray for the strength and courage to use that favor to influence others to know You too. May I be like Daniel, and be able to stand in the midst of lions, having the faith and courage knowing that You are with me, protecting me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽
-Moses Gaddi
Daniel 5 - 10.13.2023
Scripture - Pick one verse that stood out to you.
Daniel 5:25-31
“This is the inscription that was written:
mene, mene, tekel, parsin
“Here is what these words mean:
Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, 31 and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.
Observation - What about this verse stands out to you?
While these verses seem to apply very specifically to a once prince and consequent king of the Babylonians, a person in a position of power and influence the likes of which I have never had the opportunity to experience, I somehow felt the Lord was speaking to me personally this morning.
In my admittedly not so amazing memory I have never willingly profaned any artifacts that belonged to God the way king Belshazzar did. And yet this morning I felt as if God was warning me.
Application - How will you apply this to your life?
As a Christian I believe I had and have two lives - the old, before I knew Christ and the new, after I knew Christ. While the line between the ending of one and the beginning of another appears to be more blurry and more gray than not I feel the Lord urging me to not fall into the same trap as Belshazzar did. When my old life arrogantly cries out, ‘I should be ruling and reigning!’ my response will be ‘God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end old-life.’ When my old-life whispers that I should begin measuring my successes in this world, I will respond by letting it know that it has been weighed on the scales of God and been found wanting. And when my old-life shares its vision of the personal kingdom I have created, I will remind it that my new-life in Christ will divide it all away. For I live for one Kingdom now. With a new King in my heart. And this new Ruler in me is much greater than the one that was before.
Prayer - Write out a prayer.
Lord, my hope and my prayer this morning is that the posture of my spirit and my heart is corrected this morning. I have one King in my life. One King I choose to serve. One Teacher. One Master. One Lord. Help me to guard against my own pride. Teach me humility this morning Lord. Please help to realign my spirit and my soul that I may learn to be Your humble servant. Always and forever. In the name of Jesus, my King, my Savior do I pray. Amen.
-kenneth lee