August 19, 2024 - Daniel‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭25

“So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames. But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied. “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”” Daniel 3:23-25 NLT

Lord, I am always so encouraged when I read this story. I wonder if you opened our eyes to the supernatural realm, how different our circumstances would look. Yes, we might walk through the fire sometimes. We might even have to walk through the fire for walking in obedience to you. You never promise us that life will be easy when we follow you, but you do promise us that you will always be with us. You are right there with us. As we walk through the fires of our lives, help us to always remember that you are there with us. Teach us to not freak out but keep our eyes on you and our heart in praise to you. As we read this story, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out unburned and not even smelling of smoke. Lord, we realize that sometimes that isn’t the case. Sometimes, we come out of our fires with wounds. But if we bring those wounds to you, you will bring healing and make us stronger for it. It is when we don’t bring it to you and focus on it that it festers and brings infections into our bodies.

Lord, make us more like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who kept their eyes on you and praised you through the fire. Let us walk out of the other side unscathed praising you the whole way. Help us trust you even when it looks like the trials will surely kill us. Let us walk into them with praise on our lips and eyes trained on you.

In Jesus name, amen.