Daniel 2:22 (Amplified Bible) ²²He reveals the deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him!

Over the past week and a half, I have had the unfortunate task (yes I’m bi-vocational) to conduct a formal investigation of a serious motorcycle accident that resulted in multiple broken bones and an amputated lower leg and foot.  Although this individual’s life is forever altered, I praise God that this young man’s life was spared.

It was during the investigation where I recognized that what was playing out in the “physical” is not true with God.  To get the facts that we needed, it required probing inquiries, strategic investigative techniques, and asking the “hard questions”. It was only through great effort that we uncovered some “unflattering” truths that appear to have had a direct connection with his accident.  Another way to put it is it took great effort and resources to “shed light” on the hidden things which eventually led to the truth being revealed.

In Daniel chapter 2, we read where Daniel is proclaiming with excitement that He (God) knows what is in the (our) darkness. Daniel, with a heart of gratitude, (and I can almost see him shouting with all of his energy), writes that God reveals the deep and secret things. 

No matter how hard we try to hide the things of our past, our current addictions, lustful thoughts or sinful nature, we can’t hide it from God!  He doesn’t need to probe with questions, He knows! He doesn’t need to apply fancy investigative techniques. He already knows! And He doesn’t need to ask you the “hard question” so HE gets an answer from us – He already knows what we are hiding.  And what He wants is for us to recognize, and live in the freedom that His Son Jesus Christ came to die for our sins and we receive a full pardon because of that sacrifice.  It is through that truth that “light” shines into the darkest corners of our lives casting out the “deep and secret things”.

So my challenge in this devotional is this. If God already knows, why don’t we just come clean and receive the forgiveness and freedom available to us through His Son.

Listen, there is nothing that you have done that He hasn’t seen before, and there is nothing that we’ve done that isn’t covered and forgiven by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.  So don’t be afraid to tell him what he is already aware of.

Pray today that God would shed light on the things that you have hidden away and forgotten. The young man I mentioned earlier had habits and a lifestyle that eventually became very harmful. I believe, the dark things we have hidden away, have the potential to one day, harm us as well.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) ¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

One observation I have seen (not accusatory, just an observation) is that people “assume” what God’s plans are; and without prayer, confirmation, or strategy, they confess they “heard from God” then blindly move down a road avoiding the possibility that they may be wrong or accepting accountability when the truth of their mistake becomes a reality. 

When scripture teaches “for I know the plans I have for you” our flesh and minds almost scream out with an insatiable desire to know what those plans are.  However, (and this is the gold nugget for me) is that God is not obligated to share that picture with us, and not knowing – tests our faith.

Wherever you are and whatever situation you find yourself in, God’s future is bigger and better than anything you could ever plan for yourself.  Even if you don’t know what that plan is.  The key is to align our decisions with His will and promises, which mean we MUST filter every decision we make through scripture and prayer.

Pastor Glenn Burris, president of the Foursquare Gospel Church writes “The front windshield of a car is huge compared to the rearview mirror. Cast but a glance at the past, while focusing intently on what lies ahead! It’s where you’re going, not where you’ve been that should be of highest priority!

It is with that thought that I want to encourage you to trust in the plans the Lord has for you, even if they don’t line up with the current plans you have for yourself. Then don’t lose your joy when He only shows you His plans, one small piece at a time

Scripture: “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7)

Observation: Jesus was describing to the disciples how precious they are to God and told them by showing that even the seemingly unimportant sparrow is precious so how much more are those who follow Jesus. While reading this, I am currently in a hotel room looking out over the Atlantic Ocean, and dozens of seagulls are hovering around the beach right outside my room – how amazing it is that God knows each one of them. The pelicans that fly by, God knows them, the porpoises that playfully swim along – He knows them too, each wave as it rolls ashore, and each gust of wind that blows He knows of them too. That you Jesus – how much more important am I to him.

Application: Pelicans, seagulls, porpoises, waves and the wind have no idea that God is aware of there actions, let alone in control of them. They are completely unaware – much as the sparrow, that there is a God who created them. And although they may be seemingly unimportant – God is still aware of their every move.  What a blessing it is to have a mind and intellect and capacity (albeit ever so limited) to be aware of his love for me. In that awareness, I need to surrender as the waves do, to his control and calling in my life. Jesus told his disciples that “you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you….. I have the power to choose my actions every day.…. As Jesus encouraged His disciples to understand the amazing love that God had for them, may I be encouraged to relinquish control to the one that loves me too.

Prayer: Father, I pray I would have a greater since of awareness to your control in my life. Father God, I want to be able to completely surrender to your will as the winds and waves surrender to your command. Father, thank you for this beautiful visual of the Atlantic Ocean and for bringing the birds of the air in front of my window.

Scripture: I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!” (Revelation 22:8-9)

Observation: John in his amazement at what he had seen fell to his knees and began worshipping what he was able to see with his eyes. The angel who showed him these things told him to stop – that he wasn’t worthy of worship. He then reminded John that he was also a fellow servant. The angel also added to the list, “your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book”, and instructed John NOT to worship angels or man, but to worship God.

Application: What a natural thing it is to praise individuals, when what we should be doing is praising the one that provided the power, opportunity, and ability. We praise ball players or idolize actors – and yes, we even praise the pastors of larger ministries wishing that WE had the opportunity to do what they’ve accomplished. By praising individuals we can quickly become jealous with thoughts running through our mind of “I wish I had what they had”, “I wish I could play ball like that”, “I wish I could look like that”, and it doesn’t take long when we praise individuals, to completely lose our focus on God.

Prayer: Father, would you continue to teach me to praise YOU as the provider, the one that gives opportunity, and the one that has authored my life. Holy Spirit, show me immediately when my focus isn’t where it should be. Remind me, as the angel did John – don’t worship “that,” Worship God!” In Jesus name, Amen

Scripture: 1I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. 2Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. 3Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. 21My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever. (Psalm 145:1-3 and v 21)

 

Observation: The word “extol” caught my eye as I read “Every day I will praise you and extol (to lift you up high, to praise highly) your name.” The Psalmist very eloquently brakes away from the typical request style of prayer and spends time describing his commitment to praise God on a daily basis for no other reason than the greatness and worthiness of God. While he was writing, I wonder if in his worship and praise he spent some time pondering the unconceivable greatness of God, resulting in his words “his greatness no one can fathom”.

 

Application: I don’t think I spend enough time braking away from “request” type prayers. I do spend a considerable amount of time thanking Him and I’m glad to recognize that I am getting better at that. However, now that I read these verses, I am convinced that I don’t spend enough time extolling His name.  I need to echo this commitment to “praise you for ever and ever” and “My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.

 

Prayer: Heavenly Father I know there is no way to fathom your greatness, but father right now I commit to spending more time contemplating your Holiness, your majesty, and your greatness. Father, place in the very front of my mind and in the core of my soul, an even greater desire to praise and extol your name. In Jesus Name…. Amen.

Scripture: “I’m going out to fish” Simon Peter told them, and they said, we’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.  Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “friends haven’t you any fish?” “No’ they answered.  He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” John 21:4-5 (NIV)

 

Observation: As I read this, I thought, Hmm – I wonder if they fished all night, or did they stop when they didn’t catch anything? I know there have been times in my life (like, maybe even right now) when the results weren’t what I expected them to be so I slowed my efforts (or quit altogether) out of boredom or disappointment. I’ve been fishing many times before and if I didn’t catch anything in the first hour or so, I would find something else to do.  If I was told to make “one more cast” on the other side of the boat after fishing all night with no results, I would have laughed at the instructions thinking “what good would it do.”

 

Application: When Jesus calls us to be fishers of men, he doesn’t say stop – “when the fish aren’t biting.” When Christ told them to throw their next on the RIGHT side of the boat, I almost hear him saying – it doesn’t matter what side of the boat you fish from, when you do it MY WAY, trust in the results that I provide. God has called me to be who I am, and even though the race is long (and sometimes I feel like I’m fishing in a lake with no fish) – the results are not up to me – they are up to him.  This story ends with fish that should have broken the nets in quantities never seen before by the fisherman.  That’s God at work.

 

Prayer: Heavenly father, help me to leave the results up to you, and help me stay encouraged when the results aren’t everything I had hoped. Amen

Scripture: 11Later the others also came, “Sir Sir, they said. “Open the door for us”! 12But he replied I tell you the truth. I don’t know you.” 13Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25:11-13)

Observation: As the bridegroom approached, there were 5 virgins prepared to receive him and 5 who were foolish and had not brought any oil with them to keep their lamps burning. Once the bridegroom had arrived and gone inside with the 5 who had prepared, he closed the door to those he didn’t know. This parable is so clear that the bridegroom is Jesus Christ who will one day come and receive those who are prepared, but will turn away those who He doesn’t know.

Application: How much time do I spend in preparation? A bride spends considerable time preparing for her wedding day, the gown, the hair, the details, just for that very moment when she comes face to face with her groom. She doesn’t do this to earn his love or acceptance, she prepares in this way because she already loves him! It is so easy to say “I’m saved” and be satisfied, but it shouldn’t be enough. There needs to be a passion to run the race to the very end, constantly preparing myself for the day when Jesus and I come face to face. “What else can I do to prepare”, isn’t based on a works based mentality, but on my desire to do all I can do in my lifetime to prepare myself to meet Jesus, and during the time of preparation, keeping watch for his approach. It is only by His grace that I will be separated to the right with the sheep, and be told to enter into my inheritance. (see Matt:25:33-34)

Prayer: Heavenly father, I thank you for the peace that I have knowing that one day the bridegroom will come to receive me as one of your own, but Father God, I pray I never stop preparing myself for that moment. Increase in my heart Your desire for my life, so I can mature into the son you had planned and live out my days in Your Will. Amen

Scripture: Deep calls to deep at the sound of your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me. Psalm 42:7

Observation: As the sons of Korah were worshipping God, they sensed God calling them deeper in Him. They were crying out that they wanted to be closer, more intimate with God. The wanted to know His character, His nature, and His voice. The sons of Korah knew that they could not be satisfied with their present relationship with God, but to know God in new and exciting ways. The sons of Korah are starting to hear God way to them to start searching deeper, to knock harder, to ask more. To have a hunger and a thirst for God that will never be quenched. To always want more of God.

Application: When I think of deep, I usually think of the ocean. In the ocean, where are the greatest treasure found; on top of the ocean or at the bottom? I don’t want to snorkel for God, skimming along on the surface looking down in the deep. I need to scuba down to the depths where the real treasure is. I cannot be satisfied with where I am in God.  The deeper I go, the more I will learn about His character, nature, and His voice in a new and meaningful way. Which means I must search deeper, knock harder, and ask more questions about God.  When in Okinawa, NOT ONCE did the deep rise up to meet me, I had to learn skills to dive to deep.

Prayer: Heavenly Father thank you for your word, and I ask you to help me go deeper in you. Father, thank you for giving me a hobby that makes this object lesson possible, and I ask that you would put in me a greater hunger and thirst for more of you everyday. I want to be more intimate with you. In Jesus name, Amen.