Saturday, January 16th

“At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for changes against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so.  They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.  Finally these men said, ‘We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”  Daniel 6:4-5

Lord Jesus, You have called me to shine for you.  You have called me to follow after you and to serve you in righteousness and purity.  You have called me to leave behind the ways of this world and to live a distinctively different life as I follow after you.  This is the life to which you have called me.  I confess that I examine the life that I live for you, I do not always stand out or shine in this world.  I work much harder at blending in so that no one really notices me.  I want to just go about my business and not get noticed.  On top of that, sometimes I do things that truly bring you dishonor and shame.  Forgive me for it all, dear Jesus.  Wash my sin away and cover up my shame with your glory.  And then, give me your strength to live a life for you that honors you and brings you glory in any and every situation.  I do not need to get noticed, Father, but I do want all people to notice you and to give you glory through the life that I live.  Help me to do this, dear Father in heaven.  Amen.

You shine bright because of him.  He clothed you in his glory and you do shine.  You have no more shame; your shame is covered with glory.  You have no more guilt; your guilt has been removed by the blood of Jesus.  The Devil cannot accuse you; he has been thrown down.  Rise up then into this day and live a new day covered by glory, released from guilt and free from accusation.  This is the gift your Savior Jesus gives you.  

Friday, January 15th

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers.  Not so the wicked!  They are like chaff that the wind blows away.  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.  For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.”  Psalm 1:1-6

Dear Heavenly Father, I have experienced the prosperity of meditating on your word instead of the unending diet of worldly messages.  You have so designed your word to water my soul that if I choose to think about your words and what they mean for my life, I will be fruitful even in the dry seasons, because I have water for my soul that doesn’t come from my circumstances.  It comes from you.  Help my family and friends to turn off the TV, the radio, their phones and their laptops to drink deeply from your word so they will grow and be fruitful.  Give us the prosperity of life that comes from godliness.  Make us a reflection of how you bless people you have made and saved.  Amen.

The mind is divinely invented soil meant to be fertilized with God’s word to grow good things for everyone to enjoy.  Don’t pollute it with the garbage of unbelievers. 

Thursday, January 14th

“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.”  Daniel 5:26-28

Lord God, Belshazzar did not learn from his father’s failure.  He did not learn from the lesson, the spiritual lesson which you gave his father when you humbled him and drove him mad.  God, I pray, help me to learn the lessons you long to teach me.  When you send your Word into my life, help me to hear it, receive it, and then use it in my life.  Your Word is not meant to be put on a shelf; it is meant to be used for faith and for life.  You give it to me so that I believe it and obey it.  When you send trouble and trial into my life, use this pain to draw me closer still.  In moments of trial, I pray, set your word deep into my heart so that it moves from my mind down deep into my heart.  Make your Word a living and breathing part of my day, my thinking, my deciding, and my acting.  Your Word is life.  Your Word is truth.  Take your Word-all of it- and plant it deep into my heart.  Amen.

It is good for us to take in Daniel’s account and take it personally.  It is good for us to learn from history.  In history we learn to see our fallibility, weakness and fragility.  In history we learn to see God’s rule over and plan for our lives.  In history we learn to see our Savior Christ who has ransomed us from sin and every evil. 

Wednesday, January 13th

“Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.  So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale.  His nobles were baffled.”      Daniel 5:8-9

Lord God, How often am I in the course of my life using things that are meant to be used for your glory and praise to pursue sin, to give glory and worth to things that is not truly god.  I don’t always see this idolatry, but if it isn’t for your glory then it is for something or someone else’s glory.  And anything not for you is sin.  Anything not for you is idolatry.  Forgive me.  Forgive me for misusing the gifts you have given me.  Forgive me for using them for sinful purposes.  Forgive me.  Help me to rise up today to give you glory and praise with my whole life and with everything in my life.  You have redeemed me to this end.  You have redeemed me that my life might be dedicated and devoted to you alone.  So, whatever I do today, whether I eat or drink, let this all be to your glory and praise.  For you, LORD, are Lord of all.  Amen.

Our God has redeemed us and everything in our lives for his glory and praise.  Our God has redeemed us and all that we have for him.  Let us rise up from this redemption and give him the glory that is his alone. 

Tuesday, January 12th

“But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this.  Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven.  You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them.  You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand.  But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.”  Daniel 5:22-23

Lord God, You are the God who made the earth, the sea, and the sky.  You set the mountains in their places and placed the constellations in the heavens.  You made it all.  And me?  You made me carefully, uniquely, intentionally in my mother’s womb.  You are the God of heaven and earth.  In your love and with your might you hold my life and all my ways in your hands.  I admit that like a stubborn sheep I often go astray.  I do not honor you as the Lord of my life.  I acknowledge with my mouth that you are Lord, but in my heart I see a different thing happening.  I see myself trusting, honoring and seeking after other gods.  I see that especially in my heart I often go astray from you and do not give you the glory and the honor that is yours alone.  Forgive me, Savior.  Redeem me, O Christ.  Amen.

In God’s mercy, offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him.  This is your spiritual act of worship to the God who holds your heart, your life and all your ways in his hands (Romans 12:1). 

Monday, January 11th

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.  Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel.  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 1:8-9, 17

Lord God, As I live my life in this world, as an exile far from my eternal home with you, help me to remember who I am and whose I am in this world.  The devil, the world and even my own sinful flesh inside of me want to conform me to the ways of this world.  They want me to lose myself in this world so that I forget who I am and whose I am.  Help me to clearly remember whose I am so that I live my life for you as my only audience, so that I live a life that honors and glorifies you.  Keep me from giving in to the ways of the world and its ways of thinking.  You have redeemed me to yourself and I am yours.  You have removed all of my sin and clothed me with the glory of Christ.  Help me to live this out in this world.  You have redeemed me and I am yours.  Keep me in this one true faith for all eternity.  Amen.

He has redeemed me a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death and from the power of the Devil.  He has done this, not with gold or silver, but with his holy precious blood and his innocent suffering and death.  All this he did that I should be his own and live under him in his kingdom and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness.  Just as he has risen from death and lives and rules eternally.  This is most certainly true.  (Explanation to the Second Article of the Apostles Creed.)

Saturday, January 9th

“’Don’t call me Naomi,’ she told them.  ‘Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.  I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty.  Why call me Naomi?  The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.’  So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.  Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz.’” Ruth 1:20-21

Dear Heavenly Father, How easily I can judge my situation by the laws of justice that you have etched in my heart.  If I run into a string of misfortune, I feel that my good life has been ignored by you and that you are bringing down the hammer on me without respect to any good thing I have done.  I get angry out of a sense of fairness.  I struggle to understand my situation based on right and wrong.  Naomi had the very same feelings.  She felt that you had dragged her into court and had accused her to yourself.  She felt only your wrath.  I don’t blame her.  I understand her.  But you were up to something much bigger than your puny law.  You were up to grace, grace for Naomi, for me, even for all people.  I love how in this text you juxtapose Naomi’s complaint next to the simple fact that you were bringing Ruth and her close to Boaz, your fine, godly man.  Naomi remarked about your kindness.  Help me to hope in your kindness when I enter the dark days of trouble and trial.  Relieve me of always trying to understand my life by sifting it through the grid of right and wrong.  Amen.

Don’t judge your life by how well you have done or how well God has rewarded you.  If you do, you will miss the miracle of grace that sits right under your nose. 

Friday, January 8th

“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just.  And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”  Daniel 4:37

Dear Lord, My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.  From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me-holy is his name.  His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.  He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.  He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.  He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.  He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors (Luke 1:46-55, Mary’s Song).  Amen.

In love, God knocks the mighty from their thrones, but then he always raises us up again by his mercy and his might.  In his relentless love for us, God is always on the move to keep us close to him.  He has done what must be done to save us on the cross.  He will do what he must to keep us close to him throughout our lives. 

Thursday, January 7th

“Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed.  It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”     Daniel 4:27 

Lord God, I see more and more how pride is a huge part of my internal struggle.  My pride is hurt when I am not praised, or noticed, or admired, or respect.  It is a blow to pride and it hurts.  My proud is stroked when I am praised or noticed or admired or respected.  This kind of things strokes my ego and I feel better about myself.  Oh God, how corrupt and sinful and proud I am.  Break my proud heart.  Lead me to bow before you.  Do what you must to break my pride so that I depend on you more and seek to love others more deeply.  In humility, lead me to lay myself before you.  In humility, help me to pour myself out for others, seeking to honor them and to place them on a pedestal.  In humility, lead me to seek what is right and to show mercy to all people.  Most of all, dear Father, help me to find my sense of value not in what I accomplish or in what people think about me, but in what you have done for me.  You have said that I matter to you.  Help me to find my value in you and then to honor others more highly than myself.  Amen.

Rise up from your repentance and know that your God deeply and dearly loves you.  He does receive you as you are.  He forgives and values you.  He will not cast you out.  Rise up from your repentance forgiven.  Go out in your forgiveness new.  Act justly to the people around you.  Love mercy and seek to give it to the people in your life.  Walk humbly with God and in all your ways seek to honor him. 

Wednesday, January 6th, Epiphany

“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”  Matthew 2:10-11

Dear Heavenly Father, What was in the minds of the wise men that made them separate from their treasures to give them to your baby Son?  How much did they know about his upcoming life?  What did they think it all meant for them as they shared gifts and went on their way?  I have to think that we who see his whole story, know so much more than them.  Your Son lived and died for me.  He forgave me and saved me.  I will gladly separate from my treasurers to show thanks to him for redeeming me and my family.  My destiny is secure because you gave him to us.  My Christmas is safe too.  Nothing can ruin it.  It’s all about this greatest gift for us.  Amen.

Christmas is about the greatest gift given to every human being.  No one can steal that joy but unbelief. 

Tuesday, January 5th

“But Naomi said, ‘Return home, my daughters.  Why would you come with me?  Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands?  Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband.  Even if I thought there was still hope for me-even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons-would you wait until they grew up?  Would you remain unmarried for them?  No, my daughters.  It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me!’”  Ruth 1:11-13

Dear Heavenly Father, I have felt like Naomi before.  I felt like you turned your hand against me.  Sometimes it seems that one problem follows another before the first one gets resolved.  Like Naomi, I can’t always see how there is any way that I can fix what you allow to break.  But I know from this story that Naomi’s perspective was too small.  She was short sighted by her losses.  You had plans for her that fit into your much bigger design for the whole world.  It would include the blessing of restoration in this life for her too.  Give me the faith to trust your goodness even when you allow difficult circumstances to overshadow my life.  Make me an optimist based on your promises no matter what is happening in my life.  Help me to cling to your Son through every circumstance.  Amen.

When you cannot see a way out, remember that God sees the way in to his gracious plan to save. 

Monday, January 4th

“The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.”  Daniel 4:17

Dear Father in Heaven, I am so thankful that you don’t give up on me, that you are relentless in your pursuit of me.  Throughout my whole life you have pursued me even when I wandered and even ran away from you.  You were and still are always relentless to keep me close, to lead me to repentance, and to bring me back.  Even when I stubbornly resisted and even rejected you, you did not give up on me.  In my life and through your Son you have relentlessly pursued me.  Please, I beg, keep on pursuing me.  The devil is after me to destroy my faith and to lead me far from you.  The world seeks to conform me in their ways.  My own sinful flesh is no friend of mine.  There is so much in and around me that would lead me from you.  Do not give up on me.  Keep on relentlessly pursuing me.  Do whatever it takes so that I might remain your child for all eternity.  Do the same for all the people in my life, especially those whom I love.  Do whatever you must to keep them as your child.  Use me during my days on earth to pursue all your people and to gather more into your kingdom.  Amen.

We quickly and easily fall into sin and away from our God, but he is not quick to dismiss us.  In fact, the opposite is true.  God is quick to pursue, quick to forgive, quick to love, quick to work in our lives to call us back.  He is patient with us and slow to anger.  He relentlessly pursues us just as he pursued King Neb. 

Saturday, January 2nd

“Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, ‘Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’  They replied, ‘Certainly, Your Majesty.’  He said, ‘Look!  I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’”  Daniel 3:24-25

Lord God, As I live in this world there are dangers on every side.  The devil comes after me from every direction and wants to harm me.  There is truly danger all around me.  But, Lord, with you by my side I do not need to fear even if the mountains are falling into the heart of the sea.  Father, I am afraid right now.  I am worried and scared about   ________.  I am afraid because ________.  I am afraid that ________ will happen.  Come and walk with me in this moment.  Go before me as a shield to protect me from danger.  Come beneath me to give me a solid foundation for my feet.  Walk beside me to support and strengthen me on the way.  Fly above me to watch over my way and to lay out a path before me.  Come and walk with me in this fire and in this moment.  Then, Lord, I ask, save!  Save in a way that only you can save.  Deliver from this present danger.  Deliver me from all Evil.  And, then, at the end of my life, bring me safely into your heavenly kingdom.  You live and reign, Lord God.  No god can save like you save.  So, come now and save.  Amen.

Hold to those two truths today and every day: “There’s another in the fire with me.”  And, “No other god saves like my God!”

Friday, January 1st

Dear Heavenly Father, At the dawn of this New Year, precious Savior and divine Lord, I want to begin this day in your name.  So I ask you to take full possession of my life, hold me by the hand and lead me from day to day, protecting me from all dangers of body and soul.  Shield me from the temptations of sin and remove every doubtful thought from my mind.  Don’t let the worries and fears of the future rob me of that peace of mind which is mine through your sacrifice on Calvary.  Keep my footsteps in the paths of uprightness, and keep me in Thy grace.  Keep your children wherever they are, and help them through their trials and troubles.  Forgive us our many sins of the past through your cleansing and precious blood.  Grant me and all that love you the strength to live victoriously every day.  Give to your church continued growth, and prosper the work of our hands as we seek to win souls for you.  Bring this saving Gospel too many more.  Preserve peace among the nations that your message of reconciliation not be hindered in its progress as missionaries go from place to place.  Let me live in peace with my fellow men, avoiding discord, strife, and hatred.  Give me an unwavering faith in you as my Savior and King.  Make this year another year of grace to me and to many, for your name’s sake.  Amen.

Thursday, December 31st

Heavenly Father, put your protecting arms around me as I enter this New Year of grace.  Guide me safely through harm and danger which may come my way, protect me from accidents and sicknesses, and preserve me in that saving faith which will make me more than conqueror over all temptations, doubts, and unbelief.  Tonight I am mindful of my many sins and ask you to blot them out, every one, by your love and mercy through the precious blood of my redeeming Savior.  Preserve in my community your saving Gospel and prosper the work of the church established by your son, Jesus Christ, my Savior, that the community and the ends of the earth may know that there is no other name which saves but that of your son, my crucified Savior and Lord.  You have been good to me through the years, and in your mercy you have forgiven me of my sins day after day.  Grant me the grace to continue in this saving faith and to walk as I become a child of your family, through Jesus Christ, my eternal Redeemer.  Amen.

Wednesday, December 30th

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to him, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  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 set up.’”  Daniel 3:16-18

Father, Give me the courage and focus today to seek your glory in every situation.  It’s easy and even natural for me to seek my own glory.  It’s easy and even natural for me to cave in to the wrong people or things in this world.  Help me to see my own self-seeking after glory and to repent of it.  In this world, help me to stand out and shine like the light of the world that you have made me to be.  Keep me from glorifying people or things in this world and giving glory to them.  Rather, help me to live a life that gives glory to you.  Today, I know that you are able to shape me and to use my life and all events in this world for your glory.  You are able in any and every situation to gain glory for yourself.  All glory is yours.  I know that you are able to make this happen.  So, I pray, take my life today, dear Lord, and gain glory for yourself through it.  Work in me, work through me, yes, work even in spite of me to gain glory for yourself.  I know, Lord, that you are able to do this.  So, I pray, make it happen so that in all things you are glorified.  Amen.

We do not know what God will do in our lives.  These three didn’t either.  They weren’t sure whether they would be rescued from the flames or if they would destroyed by the flames and delivered into heaven.  Yet, they knew their God and they knew that in either case, he would not disappoint them; they would not be ashamed.  We do not know what God will do in our lives.  But we know this, the God whom we serve is able. 

Tuesday, December 29th

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”  Colossians 4:2-6

Dear Jesus, I think it’s really cool that you have given me the opportunity to change the world with you by two simple practices: 1) talking to you for people and 2) talking to people for you.  I will do both today and tomorrow and the next day.  Thank you for reminding me that if I will speak truth seasoned with grace, then you will make it settle in human hearts to take root and grow over time.  Give me the wisdom and patience to remember that you convert people over time as much as in one instant, so I will faithfully participate in their journey back to you.  Amen.

Trust God enough to talk to him about people and to people about God.  He’ll take care of the rest.

Monday, December 28th

“Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.  He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his --friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.”  Daniel 2:17-18

Lord God, Heavenly Father, You sit in heaven and you do whatever pleases you.  All kingdoms and powers and thrones are beneath you.  You hold all wisdom and power and might and knowledge in your hand.  I pray, be merciful to me on this day.  Do not give me what my sins deserve; rather give me grace and kindness because of your Son, Jesus.  This day is surely more than I can handle.  The decisions and the responsibilities are more than I can handle.  My own sinful nature will be at war with me all day long.  I pray, pour out mercy on me.  Do for me what I cannot do for myself.  Give me a strength that I do not have in my bones.  Give me a wisdom which does not reside between my ears.  Give me words that are not mine, but are yours.  Lord God, I will not make it through this day or carry out my responsibilities this day with you.  I am absolutely and wholly dependent on your mercy.  Pour it out on me this day.  Amen.

God does immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his great power that is at work within him. 

Saturday, December 26th

“Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: ‘Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.  He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others.  He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.  He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.’”  Daniel 2:19-22

Lord God, All power and wisdom and might are yours.  You are the only true God and the only One who is hands-on with your world and with your people.  You were hands-on when you created this world, carefully and wisely and powerfully creating it all with your mighty word.  You hand-made human beings and even have a direct hand in me; I am your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for God works which you pre-prepared for me to do.  You are directly involved in all the affairs of my life, of my city, of my state, of my country and of this world.  You are never far off.  You see and you help.  You see and you intervene.  You manipulate carefully, wisely, powerfully, and lovingly all the affairs of this world.  And you do it all in love and mercy.  Today, almighty and all-knowing God, I praise you because of this wisdom and might which you hold and possess.  I thank you that you teach and instruct me.  I thank you that you have shown me and given me faith to trust you.  Father, I trust you to care for me!  Savior, I praise you because you have redeemed me.  Spirit, I thank you because you have made me God’s special possession now and forever.  Amen.

When God manipulates this world it is neither bad nor is it haphazard.  It is all purposeful.  It is all toward good ends and purposes.  In his love and mercy to us, just as he did for Daniel, he may even give us a glimpse of the way he is working things out.  But whether you can grasp his ways or you can’t, you can be sure that he is the God who has all wisdom and power.  He will use that wisdom and power for your good on earth and, especially, for your eternity in heaven. 

Friday, December 25th

“And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me-holy is his name.’”  Luke 1:46-49

Dear Heavenly Father, I want to be like Mary.  She had just found out that she was pregnant outside of marriage by the Holy Spirit.  She was young, unmarried and poor.  But she was loved by you, by her fiancé and her family.  More than that, she looked beyond the discomforts of serving God and people to the blessings of having the opportunity to give big back to God.  She knew she was saved and she knew she had a significant impact to give the world.  Those two blessings, security and significance, are the two greatest needs of the human soul.  You met them both for Mary.  She knew it and so she praised.  I know you have made me secure and significant too.  But the ways you have called me to serve you and others have cost me comfort just as it did Mary.  Help me to ignore the cost and to count it as all joy to love you “big” as I love “big” the people you have given me to serve.  Make me positive, praising, and working to be the kind of person like you and your mother, Mary, were.  Amen.

Serving God and others isn’t near as burdensome as we make it.  At attitude of praise and thanks will cut the load in half.