Meditation: Daniel 3:68 Dew and rain, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
69 Frost and chill, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
70 Hoarfrost and snow, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
71 Nights and days, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
72 Light and darkness, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
73 Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
74 Let the earth bless the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever.
Thanksgiving Day (USA)Let the earth bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever. (Daniel 3:74)
Most of us love to be outdoors, especially if we have spent a long time stuck at home or cooped up in an office. There’s something in the natural world that revives our spirits. The beauty around us wakes up our senses in a way nothing else can. You could almost say that nature is speaking to us—but what is it saying?
Today’s reading gives us an answer. All of nature is blessing God. The rain and snow, light and darkness, all adore him. They tell us of his beauty, his power, his closeness, and his humility. If you just look outside for one minute, you realize how much praise is going on!
The difference between nature and us is that we have free will, and we can choose whether—and how much—to praise and glorify the Lord. Of course, we don’t always do this. Oftentimes, our thoughts are centered on ourselves, which can lead to a narrowing of our dreams and a lowering of our hopes.
But when we do glorify the Lord, something much more positive happens. We see how great and wonderful he is. We sense that he has us in the palm of his hand. We know that Jesus has redeemed us and that sin doesn’t have to have power over us. We are more connected to our heavenly Father, and we want to serve him more fully. We become more alive because we’re in touch with the Holy Spirit, who lives in our hearts. The joy and confidence we feel tell us that this is the way we were made to be—“God-centered” and not self-centered.
Today, try to devote some time to thanking and praising God. Don’t just thank him for the blessings he has given you. Thank him for the big blessings of forgiveness, redemption, and salvation. Praise him for his love. Adore him for his beautiful creation. Exalt him for his mercy. If you can’t come up with your own words, try praying with one of the psalms or singing along with a favorite hymn. Bless the Lord, and you will be blessed, for God lives in our praises (Psalm 22:3).
“Lord, I am amazed as I contemplate your glory. Thank you for your grace and blessing in my life. Thank you for your redemption!” Amen!
Daniel 6:12 (11) Then these men descended on Dani’el and found him making requests and pleading before his God. 13 (12) So they went to remind the king of his royal decree: “Didn’t you sign a law prohibiting anyone from making requests of any god or man within thirty days, except yourself, your majesty, on pain of being thrown into the lion pit?” The king answered, “Yes, that is true, as required by the law of the Medes and Persians, which is itself irrevocable.” 14 (13) They replied to the king, “That Dani’el, one of the exiles from Y’hudah, respects neither you, your majesty, nor the decree you signed; instead, he continues praying three times a day.” 15 (14) When the king heard this report, he was very upset. He determined to save Dani’el and worked until sunset to find a way to rescue him. 16 (15) But these men descended on the king and said to him, “Remember, your majesty, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or edict, once issued by the king, can be revoked.”
17 (16) So the king gave the order, and they brought Dani’el and threw him into the lion pit. The king said to Dani’el, “Your God, whom you are always serving, will save you.” 18 (17) A stone was brought to block the opening of the pit, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, so that nothing concerning Dani’el could be changed.
19 (18) Then the king returned to his palace. He spent the night fasting and refusing to be entertained, as sleep eluded him. 20 (19) Early in the morning, the king got up and hurried to the lion pit. 21 (20) On approaching the pit where Dani’el was, the king cried in a pained voice to Dani’el, “Dani’el, servant of the living God! Has your God, whom you are always serving, been able to save you from the lions?” 22 (21) Then Dani’el answered the king, “May the king live forever! 23 (22) My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths, so they haven’t hurt me. This is because before him I was found innocent; and also I have done no harm to you, your majesty.” 24 (23) The king was overjoyed and ordered Dani’el taken up from the pit. So Dani’el was taken up from the pit, and he was found to be completely unharmed, because he had trusted in his God.
25 (24) Then the king gave an order, and they brought those men who had accused Dani’el, and they threw them into the lion pit — them, their children and their wives — and before they even reached the bottom of the pit, the lions had them in their control and broke all their bones to pieces.
26 (25) King Daryavesh wrote all the peoples, nations and languages living anywhere on earth:
“Shalom rav! [Abundant peace!]
27 (26) “I herewith issue a decree that everywhere in my kingdom, people are to tremble and be in awe of the God of Dani’el.
“For he is the living God;
he endures forever.
His kingdom will never be destroyed;
his rulership will last till the end.
28 (27) He saves, rescues, does signs and wonders
both in heaven and on earth.
He delivered Dani’el
from the power of the lions.”
Luke 21:20 “However, when you see Yerushalayim surrounded by armies, then you are to understand that she is about to be destroyed. 21 Those in Y’hudah must escape to the hills, those inside the city must get out, and those in the country must not enter it. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, when everything that has been written in the Tanakh will come true. 23 What a terrible time it will be for pregnant women and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress in the Land and judgment on the people. 24 Some will fall by the edge of the sword, others will be carried into all the countries of the Goyim, and Yerushalayim will be trampled down by the Goyim until the age of the Goyim has run its course.
25 “There will appear signs in the sun, moon and stars; and on earth, nations will be in anxiety and bewilderment at the sound and surge of the sea, 26 as people faint with fear at the prospect of what is overtaking the world; for the powers in heaven will be shaken.[Luke 21:26 Haggai 2:6, 21] 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with tremendous power and glory.[Luke 21:27 Daniel 7:13–14] 28 When these things start to happen, stand up and hold your heads high; because you are about to be liberated!”
---------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment