Verse from Daniel

[God] rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. Daniel 6:27

In Daniel 6, God used something undeniable to get people’s attention: He miraculously rescued Daniel after he’d been placed in a lion’s den for choosing to defy King Darius’ decree by continuing to pray to God (vv. 10-23). The prophet survived because he’d “trusted in . . . God” (v. 23). Darius then declared that—unlike the dead idols of the Medes and Persians—Daniel’s God was “the living God [who] endures forever” (v. 26). He alone “rescues and . . . saves [and] performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth” (v. 27). It’s remarkable that even a pagan king acknowledged God’s power and sovereignty. Like a giant, divine “thumbtack,” God’s act of power couldn’t be overlooked.

Sometimes God gets our attention as He does something significant and undeniable (v. 27)—supernatural rescues, right-on-time provisions, and heart transformations. Other times, He works quietly as we watch and wait. Let’s stand in awe of what He’s doing in and around us today—trusting in Him and His great power (v. 23).

Verse from 1 Chronicles

“Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.”

‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬ ‭

After restoring the presence of God to their people through the Ark of the Covenant, David and Asaph, gave the people these verses as a song to perpetually remind them of the importance of seeking God's strength and presence (face) because:

• Our strength is found in the Lord's presence (2 Corinthians 12:8-10; Ephesians 6:10).
• Our grace and mercy come from the Lord's loving presence (Isaiah 63:7-9; 2 John 1:3).
• Our hope centers on seeing the Lord face-to-face in His presence and knowing Him even as we are known by Him (1 John 3:1-2).

As children of God, we can look to the Lord and His might. We don't have to rely only on our own strength and wisdom to chart our paths. 

As we seek the Lord's face while leaning on His gracious and powerful presence, the Lord leads us with His Spirit, empowering us as He works in our lives for our ultimate good (Romans 8:12-17, 28-29).

Verse from Proverbs

“A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17:22‬ ‭

A smile has a fascinating effect on our brain chemistry. Researchers have found that “when we smile it releases brain chemicals called endorphins which have an actual physiological relaxing effect.” Not only can a smile diffuse a tense situation, but it can also diffuse tension within us. Our emotions affect us as well as others. The Bible teaches us to “get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another” (Eph. 4:31–32).

When anger or tension or bitterness threatens our relationship with the Lord and with others, it helps to remember that “a cheerful heart is good medicine” for our own joy and well-being.

Verse from Mark

They made an opening in the roof above Jesus . . . and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. Mark 2:4

The men who brought the paralytic man to Jesus for healing were persistent and had gone to a lot of work—carrying him, digging up the roof tiles, and lowering him into the room where Christ was found. So imagine their reaction when Jesus instead granted him forgiveness of sins (Mark 2:1-5). After His authority to forgive sins was questioned by the religious leaders (vv. 6-7), He used the verifiable act of healing the man as proof of the unseen and impossible-to-verify authority to forgive sins (vv. 8-12).

As the men in Mark 2 had confidence in Christ’s ability to heal, we too can have confidence that when we come to God in prayer—with the needs of others or our own needs—He’ll hear us and provide what we need.

Verse from 2 Kings

Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room. 2 Kings 4:35

In 2 Kings 4:18-35, we read that Elisha and his servant, Gehazi, responded to a Shunammite woman’s plea to help her dead son. At Elisha’s instruction (v. 29), Gehazi laid his staff on the child (v. 31). Elisha prayed. Then he laid on top of the boy. At last, “Elisha . . . walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. The boy . . . opened his eyes” (v. 35).

Scripture doesn’t tell us why Elisha “walked back and forth,” nor does it say what he was thinking. What we do know is that when Elisha’s prayers weren’t answered, he didn’t give up. It’s not difficult to picture him talking to God in this urgent situation.

What do you do when you’re stuck at a dead end and don’t know what to do? Perhaps a “prayer walk” is in order. Whether we head out to a trail for a walk or pace back and forth in our home, connecting to God when we’re in need brings answers that address our circumstances.

Verse from Genesis

Whenever the rainbow appears . . . I will . . . remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures. Genesis 9:16

Owen was on holiday abroad when he received a disturbing message from a colleague: “The boss is looking to replace you.” Deeply upset, he prayed one morning at dawn and asked God, “Where are You?” Then he went to the window to open the curtains—and spotted a huge, beautiful rainbow suspended above the lake outside. Immediately a comforting warmth gushed over him. “It was as if God was simply telling me, ‘It’s okay; I’m here,’ ” he recounted later.

In Genesis 9, God promised not to destroy the earth through a flood again. He promised, “Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth” (v. 16). This covenant was everlasting and unconditional. It depended totally on God’s protection and provision, not on humanity’s performance. And it was just the first of many promises God would make to His people. Jesus, too, said, “Surely I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).  

God doesn’t promise that we won’t suffer. But He does promise His ever-present comfort and personal presence. We may not get “rainbow answers,” but we have His assurance that no matter what happens to us in life, He’s always there for us, and we can draw on His strength, comfort, and presence.

Verse from Exodus

You shall not misuse the name of the Lordyour God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. Exodus 20:7

The vintage photograph from World War II, taken outside a town’s Nazi headquarters, carries a warning for all of us. In the photo, a comfortably dressed woman is crossing the street. A man in a suit walks down the sidewalk, while another has stopped to read a bulletin board on the corner of the building. All seem oblivious to the large banner hanging above the headquarters’ front door, half as long as the building. It reads, “By resisting the Jew, I fight for the work of the Lord.”

This kind of treachery is what God had in mind when He commanded, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name” (Exodus 20:7). This command covers misusing His name when we curse or when we carelessly shout God’s name when we stub a toe or smash a finger. It also includes perversion—using God’s name as cover for evil.