Pray with Words of Hope
God works through our prayers. Prayers go where our feet cannot, and the Holy Spirit intercedes in our prayers even when we do not know what words to say. Prayer connects the body of Christ near and far around the world. The following prayer requests were shared by our ministry team in Turkey. The names […]
Kingdom of Heaven
Read: Daniel 2:36-49 The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed. (v. 44) Nebuchadnezzar provides a lesson in being careful what you wish for. When the God in heaven revealed the meaning of the king’s dream, it was not good news. Nebuchadnezzar’s dazzling kingdom would one day be crushed. […]
There Is a God
Read: Daniel 2:25-35 There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. (v. 28) The main theme of the book of Daniel is that “the God of heaven” is greater than any force on earth. Nebuchadnezzar considered himself the greatest man on earth. He believed that he could bend any person, place, or thing to […]
Seek Mercy
Read: Daniel 2:17-24 Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. (v. 19) Daniel’s immediate response to Nebuchadnezzar’s deadly threat was “prudence and discretion” (v. 14). Unlike his peers, Daniel did not panic. That being said, Daniel still had to do something. After all, if Nebuchadnezzar did not get results, heads would roll. But once again, […]
No One on Earth
Read: Daniel 2:1-16 The thing that the king asks is difficult. (v. 11) Not long after Daniel completed his training, he faced a dire situation. The Babylonian king made a “difficult” (that is, impossible) demand. If Nebuchadnezzar’s advisors failed to report the king’s forgotten dream, he would execute all of them—Daniel included. Daniel’s colleagues panicked. […]
Undefiled
Read: Daniel 1:8-21 Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food. (v. 8) Of all the ways Daniel could have testified to his faith, he chose one almost certain to make him unpopular. Daniel, as a matter of conscience, subsisted only on water and vegetables. Why did Daniel draw this potentially […]
In the King’s Service
Read: Daniel 1:1-7 The king commanded . . . some of the people of Israel . . . to stand in the king’s palace. (vv. 3-4) The book of Daniel is a story of exile. Daniel and his friends were taken from their home in Israel and forced into the service of the Babylonian king. […]
Resisting the Devil
Read: 1 Peter 5:6-14 Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (v. 8) Christians often make two equal and opposite mistakes with respect to the devil. The first is giving the devil too much respect. Did you notice that Peter refers to the devil as “your adversary”? The […]
No Surprises!
Read: 1 Peter 4:12-19 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you. (v. 12) If you are reading this devotional somewhere in North America it may be difficult to feel the force of Peter’s warning. He sees fiery ordeals coming for all who follow the Crucified […]