‭‭Daniel‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬, ‭8‬, ‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬ — The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.”

This week we will be sharing about Major Prophet Daniel who was taken into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon to serve in the royal palace. He was a man of integrity and faithful to God.

Daniel, also known as Belteshazzar, was to eat a daily portion of what the king ate. The king’s diet for the Babylonians violated the Jewish dietary laws established by God. Daniel proposes a new diet that consists of fasting meat and eating only vegetables. The king agrees to the diet and sees that this diet is better. 

It was a true test of faith for Daniel to not only fasting to be healthy for God’s glory, but to also risk his life by standing up to the king. Sunday I encouraged you to listen to Famous For (I Believe) by Tauren Wells Featuring Jenn Johnson. God is famous for doing exceedingly, abundantly more than we can imagine as Daniel is then elevated by the king. 

Is there something you need to fast so that you can be elevated by God? Maybe it’s junk food or something secular that gets in the way of bringing God glory.

Let’s pray. Dear God, You are able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within me, to You be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

@biblegateway @youversion

This week we will be sharing about Major Prophet Daniel who was taken into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon to serve in the royal palace. 

Take a moment to meditate on this week’s scripture verses. 

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬, ‭8‬, ‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬ — The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.”

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭2‬:‭25‬, ‭27‬-‭28‬, ‭45‬ ‭ESV‬‬ — Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: “I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.” Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬, ‭24‬-‭25‬, ‭27‬ ‭ESV‬‬ — And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬, ‭19‬-‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬ — Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬ — Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

@biblegateway @youversion

This week as we entered the last three months of 2025, I have encouraged you to reflect, refocus, and reset so you may finish the year in the best possible way. As I reflect on the previous nine months of 2025, I am savoring the sweet memories made, remembering the difficult days, and praising God for the lessons learned through it all. 

It just so happens that next week we have a fall break from school. I am looking forward to a week off from work, but I am also excited that our family will be going on vacation for a portion of the week. This time away will be an extra opportunity for me to reflect, refocus, and reset.

Julie and I have shared before one of our favorite quotes from author Mark Batterson.

Change of place + change of pace = change of perspective

As you reflect, refocus, and reset for the remainder of the year, I encourage you to have a change of place and change of pace. Perhaps you do not have the time, money, or opportunity for a true vacation. However, a change of place is simply time spent pulled away from your everyday routine. Maybe you can sit on the beach alone for a few hours, go on an extended walk in a place you don’t normally walk, or go to a local park to sit alone. Your version of change of place and pace may be a ride alone through the countryside or a boat ride down the river. The point is that you be intentional about slowing down, pulling away, and being in a place that isn’t in your daily routine. Savor this time with God and he will use your change of place and change of pace to change your perspective. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, open my eyes, ears, mind, and heart to Your presence today. Help me to begin the process of reflecting, refocusing, and resetting as I approach the last 90 days of 2025. May reflecting Your light be my primary goal. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

For the last few days I have asked you to spend some time on self-examination. I pray you have reflected, refocused, and reset so you may finish the last 90 days of 2024 strong. 

Take some time to read this blog post titled How To Improve Yourself: 20 Ways To Be Better by Elizabeth Perry.

Have you set a goal? Have you started some new routines? What will you do to keep growing closer to and more like Christ?

Let’s pray. Dear God, open my eyes, ears, mind, and heart to Your presence today. Help me to begin the process of reflecting, refocusing, and resetting as I approach the last 90 days of 2025. May reflecting Your light be my primary goal. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Philippians 2:3 NIV — Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Julie and I usually refer to Thursdays as Thankful Thursday. Years ago, when my children were younger, we would take time on Thursdays to somehow thank someone for their presence in our lives. Sometimes we would simply write a thank you note. Other times we would take time to bake cookies or buy a small token of appreciation and deliver it on Thursday. This habit was a small gesture of thinking of others and practicing gratitude. Including today, there are 13 Thursdays left in 2025. What habit could you incorporate to show appreciation of others on Thankful Thursdays?

Let’s pray. Dear God, open my eyes, ears, mind, and heart to Your presence today. Help me to begin the process of reflecting, refocusing, and resetting as I approach the last 90 days of 2025. May reflecting Your light be my primary goal. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 MSG — You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No lazy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

We have started the last 90 days of 2025. Are you on the path to finish the year strong? How are you improving your mental, emotional, and spiritual life? Are you stepping out of your boat of comfort and taking steps to move closer to Christ? 

Take a few moments to read this article titled Self-improvement, 1 Percent At A Time by Duke Corporate Education. This article explains the “aggregate of marginal gains” theory. 

Spend some time examining yourself. What are you doing for the final push of the year to improve yourself and become 1% better each day?

Let’s pray. Dear God, open my eyes, ears, mind, and heart to Your presence today. Help me to begin the process of reflecting, refocusing, and resetting as I approach the last 90 days of 2025. May reflecting Your light be my primary goal. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion