Devotions

The book of Daniel mentions several benefits for those who have a repentant heart. Indeed, for all who acknowledge their sin, God does the miraculous. One such benefit is a new and clearer image of Jesus. Read what happened after Daniel’s repentance prayer in Daniel 10. 

“I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude. And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision…” (Daniel 10:5-7, NKJV). 

Who do you think Daniel saw in this vision? It was Jesus! What a wonderful benefit the Holy Spirit opened to Daniel when he confessed his sin. He was given a clear, unobstructed view of Christ in all his glory.

Please understand that Daniel was not looking for a vision. All he was doing was confessing and mourning over his sin. Jesus took it upon himself to come to Daniel; he initiated it. When we repent and make things right with God and others, Jesus will manifest himself to us.

Daniel had friends who were also godly because he walked only among the righteous, yet scripture tells us none of them saw the vision he did: “The men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone” (Daniel 10:7-8).

A truly repentant heart never has to hide from the Lord because there is no longer any fear of judgment. If you acknowledge your sins with godly sorrow and make restitution, you can look confidently into the master’s face. You do not have to quake with fear when you hear reproof. All you will see before you is Christ in all his love and glory.

How do we most often view God? Everyone struggles with having a slightly one-sided view of God. We tend to assume that he most often shows one certain trait. That trait tends to be based on how we were taught to view God overall. What if, though, an infinite God reflects all of his traits fully at all times? 

It’s hard to get our heads around the idea that God is the essence of the words used to describe him. He isn’t merely just, wise and holy, he is justice, wisdom and holiness. He is the source and embodiment of those words. 

The first words of the Bible are, “In the beginning.” We’re being welcomed into the mind of God. “Before we even begin,” he is saying, “draw your eyes upward to me. I am the source of all things. You will find all that you want and need in your life in me.” 

We’ve all struggled with reconciling justice and love. Today’s headlines cause outrage in our spirits. “How can a just and loving God allow such misery to happen to innocent people?” 

My life’s work in studying the attributes of God and sharing his love with people has never once provided me with pat answers to life’s big questions. What I’ve learned instead is this: The point of life is not being in a place of pure comfort and satisfaction. Life is about reaching for and knowing God, the giver of life. 

Each of God’s attributes goes back not just to the beginning of man’s journey, but all the way to the birth of time and space. He welcomes our questions and our seeking to understand his ways, but he longs for more. His heart is for us to spend time with him and with his word so that our hearts are engaged with his. As we develop a relationship with him, our perspective changes. Rather than merely analyzing God from a distance, we savor the joy and richness of his presence. This is when we truly begin to understand him. 

Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” It is when we are in his presence that we begin to see the wonders of who he is.

According to researchers, people open their mouths an average of seven hundred times in a day. In those seven hundred times, you will use an average of eighteen thousands words a day. Those eighteen thousand words translate to about fifty-four printed pages. That means that in one year, an average person would fill sixty-six books of eight hundred pages each. Every year, you write with your words sixty-six volumes that are larger than Tom Clancy’s novels. 

That’s a lot of words! What makes it even more impressive is that each of those words matter. The Old Testament says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits” (Proverbs 18:21, ESV). The Message version puts it this way: “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.”

Is it that big of a deal? Let’s see what Jesus said about it. “…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:34-37). 

You and I will be held accountable for every careless word we speak, so yes, we definitely need to take our eighteen thousand seriously. It’s a scary thought, isn’t it? God thinks our words are so important and can make such a difference in someone’s life that he holds us accountable for them. 

Proverbs 12:25 tells us, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” So here’s a challenge for you: give someone a good word today. Text it, say it, write it. Choose your words to bring life. 

Recently, my family and I were traveling. As we sat together on the last flight, I watched my youngest daughter write a five-sentence note of thanks to the flight attendant. She wanted to give life with her words. One good word can change anxiety into gladness. Your words have that capability. Do something useful with your eighteen thousand today!

^{After pastoring an inner-city congregation in Detroit for thirty years, Pastor Tim served at Brooklyn Tabernacle in NYC for five years and pastored in Lafayette, Louisiana, for five years. He became Senior Pastor of Times Square Church in May of 2020.}

Christ is the living Word of God. When you are shut in with him in prayer, the Holy Spirit will always lead you to God’s revealed Word. He will build up your faith by feeding you from the Bible, even while you are in the secret closet.

We are commanded, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. …Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. …and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:11, 13, 17, NKJV).

Often when you receive specific instructions from the Lord, his Spirit will whisper, “Now turn to—” and you will be directed to a passage of scripture. God’s Word will speak to you directly, telling you how to get through your crisis.

Many Christians reading this message simply must hear a word from the Lord. Nobody on earth can help them. The only way for them to get through their trial is by staying in Christ’s presence until he gives them direction. He must tell them the way through, what to do and when and how to act. His exclusive direction to them will not come one minute too early or too late. It will all be in the Holy Spirit’s timing!

Beloved, there is no need for you to worry about your trial. God is faithful to respond to your every need and request. Simply pray, “Lord, I come now not just to have my needs met, but I come also to meet your need.”

We were made for fellowship with him even in our heaviest times. Do you love to be with him? Let your heart cry out, “Jesus, you are my everything. You are my soul’s great pleasure, and I love your company!”

Father, help us to listen closely to your Spirit and put all our confidence in your revealed Word.

Most Christians don’t listen to God. They go to him only to talk! The scriptures reveal that any person who was ever used of God learned to remain in his presence until they heard from him.

Scripture makes it clear that the Lord wants to talk to every one of us. “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21, NKJV).

I heard of a little girl suffering from leukemia who was struggling with the thought of dying. One morning when her mother came into her room, the girl was all aglow and happy. “What has happened to you?” her mother asked.

The little girl answered, “An angel came to me and said I was going on a trip. God came and took my hand and walked with me through a beautiful garden. He told me, ‘You’re coming here tomorrow to be with me.’“

God spoke to that little child and took all the pain and fear from her heart. When she left to be with him the next day, she had total peace. 

When you are intimate with Jesus, do you receive direction from him? Does he tell you what to do and when or how to do it? Some Christians don’t believe God does this, but Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice…and they follow me” (John 10:27).

In your trial, get alone with Jesus and cry, “Lord, you’re the only one who can help me. Only you know the way through this trial, so I’m going to stay here ‘till you tell me what to do.”

This is the kind of praying that is pleasing to God. It means stopping all activity. Only then will you hear him speak clearly to your heart: “You must make things right with this person.” or “Just stand still till next week. Don’t get in a hurry. Sit in my presence and trust me.” He will give you clear directions.