Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.

Daniel 9

Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. Daniel 10:12

I continue my study of Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 10 as I lean on my commentary for this text, which outlines the following divisions:

I. Spiritual Warfare Involves Divine Action (10:1).

II. Spiritual Warfare Requires Reinforcements Given through Prayer and Fasting (10:2-3,12).

III. Spiritual Warfare Can Be Overwhelming in Its Realities (10:4-17).

IV. Spiritual Warfare Should Result in Spiritual Refreshment (10:18-21).

From the reading of the text and the commentary, two broad themes emerge: (1) spiritual warfare, (2) prayer.

On spiritual warfare the commentary shares how we, in our human comprehension, cannot see the fullness of the spiritual battles occurring as we go about our daily lives.  Yet it is real and is a powerful force that can be overwhelming....with Daniel feeling overwhelmed and weak on several occasions here in Daniel 10, including v8,10, and 16. 

On prayer, the commentary shares that "[o]ur prayers provide spiritual reinforcement for the battles that take place “against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens” (Ephesians 6:12). Our prayers are weapons of warfare that provide ammunition for angels as they engage the demonic forces of evil in spiritual combat. Our prayers matter. They make a difference in this unseen but certain world of the spiritual."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who reveals Himself to me through Your Word which I can read and study and find You.  Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of how You reveal Yourself to me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Acts 12

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. Acts 12:5

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I finish the story of "Peter: Gospel of the Second Chance*".

*Title of lesson nine from the Max Lucado study.

Max Lucado's commentary* for day five of my study describes how King Herod imprisoned Peter in Acts 12 - he emphasizes how the church responded in prayer (Acts 12:5) and how Peter, once freed by an angel of the Lord, goes to Mary's house where she is holding a prayer vigil for Peter (Acts 12:12). Lucado gives us other verses that encourage prayer:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:17: "pray continually"
• Mark 11:17: Jesus refers to the temple as a "house of prayer"
• Matthew 18:19 (MSG): "When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action."

We are encouraged to pray first when we encounter difficult circumstances, and to listen for how God IS working as He is always at work. Lucado writes:"[n]o other spiritual activity is guaranteed...results".

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is always at work, hearing all of my prayers and moving in my life and in the life of others...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You are at work in my life...my sin of worry, and others sins continue.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

John 11

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I start the story of "Lazarus: The Final Witness*".

*Title of lesson eight from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day one starts with Max Lucado describing a fictional account of a courtroom trial where Lazarus is a final witness to determine whether Jesus could serve as the guardian for the reader of the account (or anyone for that matter). John is Jesus' attorney and asks Lazarus to tell his story which is in John 11. We are to note a few things about this story - one is that Jesus did not come to Lazarus' aide for at least four days as Lazarus was already dead and buried by the time He arrived (John 11:17).  Lucado also wants us to understand that "we don't always know why God delays in answering our request, but we can trust his timing". In this case, we learn from John 11 that Jesus arrived later because He wanted it to give them cause to believe in Jesus' power.

So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. John 11:14-15

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” John 11:41-42

Lucado also encourages us to understand the power of prayer (in God's Name - John 11:21-22) and to share our personal testimony with others as I am sure Lazarus did with others.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who hears our cries answers all of them.  We don't know Your timing but we know that You have a plan for our good and Your glory and we can wait and trust in the Lord.  Thank You Jesus for Your faithfulness and that You always hear and reply to our cries.  I am not deserving of all the blessings You pour out for me.  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

Moses

But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened. Exodus 32:11-14

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This afternoon, I continue with the story of "Moses: A Glimpse of God's Glory*".

*Title of lesson four from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day four starts with Max Lucado pointing us to how God met with Moses on the top of Mount Sinai to give him the Ten Commandments (Exodus 31) but then God directed Moses back down the mountain to stop the Israelites from further sin as they had become impatient that Moses had not come down from meeting with God and had fashioned a golden-calf (with Aaron's blessing!) in place of God.  We've all doubted God's hand in our lives but God wants us to come to Him with out doubts and fears - we are to avoid turning to idols as the Israelites did.  

Lucado also points to how Moses' interceded on the Israelites behalf, pleading with God to not destroy the Israelites - we are encouraged to see how prayer is powerful and effective. Lucado provides us with additional verses that underscore the power of prayer: 

[I]f my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. Psalm 34:17

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Luke 11:9

 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  John 15:7

Comment and discuss this post here.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who hears and responds to my cries - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving for how You interceded on my behalf to die on the cross - the greatest gift of all time. Not deserving at all...my sin - worry, laziness, etc. - continues!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.