Steer as far away from sinful practices as possible. (Hosea 5:4)

Hosea 5:4

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴ Your deeds won’t let you return to your God.
    You are a prostitute through and through,
    and you do not know the Lord.


Persistent sin hardens a person's heart, making it difficult to repent. Deliberately choosing to disobey God can rear the conscience; each sin makes the next one easier to commit. Don't allow sin to groove a hard path deep within you. Steer as far away from sinful practices as possible.


Joe





 

God is trying to get your attention. (Daniel 9:14)

Daniel 9:14

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁴ Therefore, the Lord has brought upon us the disaster he prepared. The Lord our God was right to do all of these things, for we did not obey him.


Daniel spoke about how God continually tried to bring Israel back to himself. Yet even after disaster struck them, they refused to obey Him. God still uses circumstances, other people, and most important, His Word to bring His people back to Him. What would it take for God to get your attention?

Joe

God will deliver you. (Daniel 6:21-23)

Daniel 6:21-23

The Message (MSG)

^21-22 “O king, live forever!” said Daniel. “My God sent his angel, who closed the mouths of the lions so that they would not hurt me. I’ve been found innocent before God and also before you, O king. I’ve done nothing to harm you.”

²³ When the king heard these words, he was happy. He ordered Daniel taken up out of the den. When he was hauled up, there wasn’t a scratch on him. He had trusted his God.

The man or woman who trusts in God and obeys His will is untouchable until God takes him or her. To trust God is to have immeasurable peace. God, who delivered Daniel will deliver you. Do you trust Him with your life?

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

People will criticize your faith. (Daniel 6:4-5)

Daniel 6:4-5

 

The Message (MSG)

^4-5 The vice-regents and governors got together to find some old scandal or skeleton in Daniel’s life that they could use against him, but they couldn’t dig up anything. He was totally exemplary and trustworthy. They could find no evidence of negligence or misconduct. So they finally gave up and said, “We’re never going to find anything against this Daniel unless we can cook up something religious.”

The jealous officials couldn't find anything about Daniel's life to criticize, so they attacked his religion. If you face jealous critics because of your faith, be glad they're criticizing that part of your life - perhaps they had to focus on your religion as a last resort. Respond by continuing to believe and live as you should. Then remember that God is in control, fighting this battle for you.

Joe

 

 

 

 

Give God the glory that He deserves. (Daniel 2:27-30)

Daniel 2:27-30

New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁷ Daniel replied, “There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king’s secret. ²⁸ But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.

²⁹ “While Your Majesty was sleeping, you dreamed about coming events. He who reveals secrets has shown you what is going to happen. ³⁰ And it is not because I am wiser than anyone else that I know the secret of your dream, but because God wants you to understand what was in your heart.

Before Daniel told the king anything else, he gave credit to God, explaining that he did not know the dream through his own wisdom but only because God revealed it. How easily we take credit for what God does through us! This robs God of the honor that He alone deserves. Instead we should be like Daniel and point people to God so that we give Him the glory.

 

Joe

 

 

 

Think of others. (Daniel 2:24)

Daniel 2:24

New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁴ Then Daniel went in to see Arioch, whom the king had ordered to execute the wise men of Babylon. Daniel said to him, “Don’t kill the wise men. Take me to the king, and I will tell him the meaning of his dream.”

Daniel did not use his success to promote his own self-interest. He thought of others. When striving to succeed or survive, remember the needs of others.

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ask God for Wisdom. (Daniel 2:21, James 1:5)

Daniel 2:21

New Living Translation (NLT)

²¹ He controls the course of world events;
    he removes kings and sets up other kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
    and knowledge to the scholars.


If you ever think that you have much to learn in life, and if you ever wish that you knew more about how to handle people, then look to God for wisdom. While educational institutions provide diplomas at great expense, God gives wisdom freely to all who ask. (See James 1:5 below for more on asking God for wisdom.)


James 1:5
New Living Translation (NLT)
⁵ If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.



Joe