Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Philippians 4:6
Sisters 💕 Philippians 4:6 is one of my life verses. It is a verse that has changed my life in many ways. It has not only rescued me from pits of anxiety and fear, but it has also taught me to pray and shown me that I can trust God with my life. This was a truth that Esther knew as well, which is why, from the time Mordecai called on her to make the plot to destroy the Jews known to the king, she insisted that she would only go before the king after a time of fasting and praying. Friends, may we always be so faithful to keep prayer at the forefront of the battles that we face.
Believing that God was with her, Esther does as Mordecai had instructed her. With courage and boldness, she reveals not only the slaughter planned for the Jews but the truth of who she is.
based on the Love God Greatly Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land
Scripture: God’s Road Map for Our Journey / Daniel 7:9-18 (14)
I realize that some people love to read the end-time visions of Daniel and others, like John from the book of Revelation, but my mind struggles to comprehend them. So, when I read today’s opening paragraph in the Love God Greatly Journal entry, I was honestly relieved to read that: “We will go faster through the rest of the book of Daniel, which now shifts to recording the apocalyptic visions Daniel received from God.” I was further relieved to read these encouraging words, “don’t worry if you don’t completely understand some of the visions. Daniel didn’t either!”
The visions emphasize the main themes of the book, which are:
God has all authority and power.
He is working out His purposes through the seasons of history – and
He will humble the arrogant.
I will say that “soaping,1 the passage did help me, though I depended heavily on the bibleref.com commentary and some ‘Scripture squirrels’ I chased along the way.
The vision opens with our Creator God, or as Daniel sees Him in this vision, the Ancient of Days, taking His seat on His majestic throne and being ministered to by an overwhelming number of spiritual beings. We read of four different beasts; one is killed, its body destroyed, and thrown into the fire; the other three are allowed to go on living for a period of time, but they no longer have any authority. As Daniel kept watching the vision unfold, he was allowed to see “one like the Son of Man2,” to whom the Ancient of Days gave “ruling authority and supreme power over “ALL.” As He has been worthily called by many- Jesus, (the “Son of Man),” was revealed as the undisputed champion. Not only does He have all power and authority, but His Kingdom will never end.
I am not sure if Daniel could have fully understood or appreciated the magnitude of what he was being shown. Nor do I believe we can fully grasp just how encouraging the reality of this vision is for us. The simple albeit profound truth is – the vision is further confirmation that JESUS IS COMING AGAIN – and of His Kingdom, there will be NO END!
Daniel didn’t have the full canon of Scripture as we do, so you can imagine how he must have felt. In his own words, he was “distressed and alarmed,3” undoubtedly desperate to understand the meaning of the vision. So, he records, “I asked one who was standing beside the throne what it all meant.” “The divine interpreter gives Daniel good news to go with the prior bad news. These earthly human kingdoms will not last forever. Yet true believers in God will be given an eternal kingdom.4“
“These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth. 18 But in the end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever.”
Daniel 7:17-18. NLT
Friends, I want to share one more quote from the LGG Journal, as an encouragement to all believers – “We live in the time between Jesus’ first and second coming. During this time, the devil has already been defeated. Yet, God has allowed him to remain for a season until his ultimate demise at the end of time. While the devil has power, it is limited. Jesus gives us the power to resist the devil. We know that ultimately good will triumph.
Prayer Response to the Journey /borrowed from the LGG Journal, p151
Lord God, You are the Alpha and Omega. I long for Jesus’ return when there will be no more sin or death, and Your kingdom comes in all its glory. Lord, I pray for the church, Your people across the world. Strengthen us. Help us to resist the devil and encourage us to live faithfully. Amen
But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33
Do you ever worry about life’s needs and wants – and the money that can supply those things? I know I have, and at times, I still find myself falling back to those concerns and worries. Apparently, so did the people in Jesus’ day, which is why this portion of the Sermon on the Mount contains teachings by Jesus about issues like treasures on earth versus treasures in heaven (6:19-21)1-3 and about watching out for the desire of “the eye” (6:22)4. He also warned them that they could not serve two masters (6:24)5, in other words, they could not serve the desires of their heart and eyes and God. This is when Jesus pointed out their worries and cares about the things of this world, like clothes, food, and drink. He wanted them – and us – to know and to remember that God would take care of them and their needs – their greater concern and pursuit (and ours) should be God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. Actually, look at the verse again and pay careful attention to the fact that Jesus says, “Pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
To seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness means to live in that ongoing repentance from sin, and to lead the kind of sincere, from-the-heart, devoted-to-God lifestyles Jesus has been describing. In response, God will make provision for whatever it is we truly “need” in order to accomplish His will.
Bibleref.org / Matthew 6:24
The applicable message, then, for us, as disciples of Jesus or simply curious readers of His truths, is to know that it is God who cares for our needs, and we can and should trust Him to do this while we occupy ourselves with the pursuit of His Kingdom and righteousness.
Note that Jesus’ audience in Matthew chapter 6 included “His chosen disciples, committed followers, and simply curious listeners.” Bibleref.com / chapter five context
Are you a disciple of Jesus or simply a curious reader of the blog? If you fall under the curious listener – welcome! I invite you to follow the link to Know These Truths, where you will find all you need to know about becoming a disciple of Jesus.
For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called Wonderful Adviser, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His dominion will be vast, and he will bring immeasurable prosperity. He will rule on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom, establishing itand strengthening it by promoting justice and fairness, from this time forward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will accomplish this.
Isaiah 9:6-7
In our larger passage, verses two through five are a message from the prophet Isaiah that tells of a time when God will send light back to Israel. War will cease and Israel’s enemies will no longer rule over them. Verses six and seven tell us how that will happen.
Oh the beauty of a promise kept and of hope given. Through God’s Word we have seen the child, the son that Isaiah spoke of, born to a virgin who called His name Emmanuel. We have seen Him on a cross bearing the weight of sins that belonged to the world. We have watched as God let Him die and listened as He cried in agony, “My God, My God – why have You forsaken Me?” We’ve peered into the tomb with Mary and the others to see the grave clothes but no body and then watched as He later ascended into heaven. Perhaps we’ve even doubted with Thomas but then realized the reality of His presence and cried out as Thomas did, “My Lord, and my God!” By faith we now believe that He sits at the right hand of God’s throne interceding on our behalf. And by faith we believe and wait with great anticipation for His promised return. Yes, oh yes! There is beauty in a promise kept and that beauty comes in the hope, peace, and strength that come from knowing Him .
Feel free to share your thoughts (observations, application …) about today’s passage – in the comment section
Reflections on Today’s Journey
Who is Jesus to you?
Why is He such an important person?
Why do so many people still follow Him?
Going Further
For more insight on today’s reading be sure and ready today’s blog from the LGG Team
Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”
John 18:36
Freeing
Jesus’ answer to Pilate’s question, “what have you done”, is simple – we are not on the same team. I’m a very logical person, I like things to make sense and if we don’t see eye to eye on something I’m probably going to try to convince you to see things from my position. However, as I read through our passage today – and specifically our focus verse (36), I discovered there was something freeing about Christ’s answer. He did not try to argue the case of the ‘world’ against Him, and His disciples did not fight on His behalf because He was doing what He was sent to do in the name of the Kingdom.
What About Us?
We cannot expect the ‘world’ to see things from our point of view. We are from/for different kingdoms. So, our battles belong to the LORD! Ours is not to argue points and demand agreement but to share the Gospel and love others like Christ loved us. Look at all of the examples from Christ’s life and you will find Him pointing others to the Father, performing miraculous deeds, loving sinners, healing the sick, teaching the believers, explaining His deeds – again, in ways that pointed to the Father. Jesus did not demand and argue – nor should we. Paul said it like this in 1 Corinthians 1:18, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but it is God’s power to those who are being saved.”
Our Response
Father, this world is not my/our home. Like Christ, we are here on mission for You. Let us live with this in mind so that the things and arguments of this world don’t distract us from Your call upon our life. – In Jesus’ Name Amen!
Don’t forget to visit LoveGodGreatly.com for more on today’s passage.
READ: JOHN 3:16-17, COLOSSIANS 1:11-14, HEBREWS 2:14-15; SOAP: COLOSSIANS 1:13
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,
Colossians 1:13 NLT
Reflection Questions: You’re invited to share your responses in the comment bar below
How has Christ rescued your life from the power of darkness?
How does it comfort you to know that He is always working for your deliverance, no matter the circumstance?
In Jesus, we are rescued. Not from flat tires or power outages, but from the enemy of our souls and an eternity in hell separated from God because of our sin.
When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies, 2 the king summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace,[a] but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!”
3 Nathan replied to the king, “Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.”
4 But that same night the Lord said to Nathan,
5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in? 6 I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. I have always moved from one place to another with a tent and a Tabernacle as my dwelling. 7 Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s tribal leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, “Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?”’
8 “Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! 10 And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, 11 starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.
“‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! 12 For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. 13 He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. 15 But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. 16 Your house and your kingdom will continue before me[b] for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”
17 So Nathan went back to David and told him everything the Lord had said in this vision.
The Ancestors of Jesus the Messiah
This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham[a]:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram.[b] 4 Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon. 5 Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. 6 Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). 7 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa.[c] 8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram.[d] Jehoram was the father[e] of Uzziah. 9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham. Jotham was the father of Ahaz. Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon.[f] Amon was the father of Josiah. 11 Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin[g] and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon). 12 After the Babylonian exile: Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel. 13 Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud. Abiud was the father of Eliakim. Eliakim was the father of Azor. 14 Azor was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Akim. Akim was the father of Eliud. 15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob. 16 Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
17 All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.
Me From the Inside Out 