Author: Dave Dishman (Page 229 of 458)

Daniel knew his rivals were out to get him, enticing King Darius to sign a phony worship decree designed to force Daniel’s hand. But despite the edict, Daniel returned to his practice of daily prayer.

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Good habits serve us well. Daniel leaned into his powerful habit of prayer in a time of crisis. He certainly knew the king would hear of his actions and call him in for accountability. But he prayed anyway.

Of course, Daniel carried long experience with the Lord. He interpreted dreams, discussed with his friends their experience in a fiery furnace alongside Jesus, and read angelic handwriting on a wall.

Despite a death sentence, Daniel humbly knelt to say his prayers. The Lord would do with him what the Lord would do. In this case, the Lord sent an angel to hold shut the mouths of the lions and Daniel emerged unscathed.

Daniel knew the Lord’s track record was better than that of the kings of Babylon, and his faith carried him through the crisis.

But still, I bet he was nervous peering into that pit of big cats looking back up and waiting for dinner.

Daniel 6 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Dawid Zawiła

After the conquest of Judah, four young men entered the service of the king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar chose the best and brightest of his new subjects to work for him, creating closer ties and infusing new blood into the leadership of his growing empire.

God blessed these young men—Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and Daniel—with health and vigor and best of all, knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning.

Like students everywhere, desperate to salvage my grades I prayed God, help me with the answers on this test! In Babylon, however, the Lord blessed these scholars so that they would in turn bless others. The heavenly tutoring served everyone around them, including their fellow Jews and their captors, Nebuchadnezzar included.

I never received any divine intervention when I failed to study. Seems the Lord allowed me to learn better lessons from my lack of preparation.

But when the Lord chooses to bless, he will use whatever means at his disposal, especially bright young people ready to follow Him.

Daniel 1 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Roman Mager

Warranties on major appliances eventually expire, as they do with automobiles and all major purchases. You might find a life-time warranty on socks, an item cheap to replace, but once that pair gets lost in your drawer it’s hard to remember the promise attached.

Jesus left his disciples with a promise with no expiration: I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

This promise still applies to Jesus’s disciples today—both aspects. Those who follow Jesus will indeed face trials and adversity. But in the midst of such challenges we may take comfort in knowing the Jesus stays in control.

Keep this promise close to heart. Jesus overcame the world a long time ago, and you and I are with Jesus.

John 16 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya

Jesus spent intimate time with his disciples before entering the ordeal on the cross. During these hours with those closest to him on this earth, he blessed them in a powerful way:

I no longer call you servants, because a servant no longer knows his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

No more merely servants, grown beyond student, these mentorees discovered a friendship with Jesus.

A friendship reveals deeper levels of relationship. I talk with friends with an ease and comfortability I shy away from with others. As I person who guards his comments with most people, a friend allows for an open dialogue. Trust can be counted on.

Jesus opens this friendship to his disciples today. I speak to Jesus, and I listen for Jesus as well, because as a friend he has things to say to me. I bring my frustrations and my excitements, heartaches and joys without holding back.

In my prayers, I approach Jesus without worrying about saying all the proper words—because there’s no need for formality with a friend.

John 15 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Harli Marten