TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come.” Daniel 2:27-28a
Read: Daniel 2:17-23
Listen: Daniel 2
TODAY’S MESSAGE
It’s a life or death situation. Nebuchadnezzar has asked his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him both his dream and its interpretation. The stakes are their very lives. They fail so the king orders the execution of all the wise men in the land. It isn’t long before the executioners knock on Daniel’s door to summon him and his friends to their death. Granted some time, Daniel urges his friends to plead with God for mercy. When they do, God responds and gives Daniel exactly what the king requests.
Daniel prays and praises God both generally and specifically. Daniel thanks God for who God is, for what God has done generally for many people and for what God has done specifically for Daniel. Daniel doesn’t just pray and move on—he carefully gives God credit for what God has done. Daniel’s response reminds us of when Jesus heals ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19). Following their healing, only one returns to Jesus to thank Jesus for healing the leper.
We can certainly remember times when we have prayed and not received what we want. There are also times when we pray, see something change, and just move on. We experience God’s answer to our prayer and don’t thank God for what God has done. We not only need to thank God for the blessings we enjoy every day, but we need to specifically thank God when God has done what we asked.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Make two lists in your journal. In the first, write as many of God’s general blessings you can think of. Things like the food you enjoy, the air you breathe, the beautiful autumn colors and good friends. In the second, write the ways God has answered your specific requests for instance a new job, a restored relationship or good test results. Then thank God again for his specific goodness to you.
2022 BIBLE MEMORY PRACTICE
Develop spiritual roots and tap in the power of God’s word by memorizing monthly a Bible verse! View previous verses at beyondtheweekend.org/biblememorypractice.
MICAH 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
