January 20, 2022 - Daniel 3:23-25

“and these three men [Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego], firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”” Daniel 3:23-25 NIV

Lord, we want to stand for you like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. This situation could not have looked more hopeless for them. The fire was turned up 7 times hotter than normal, to the point the heat killed the men who threw these 3 in the fire. There was no possible way they should have survived, but they looked certain death in the face and still said yes to you. They stood up for you and your righteousness regardless of the consequences. They knew that it would cost them their lives unless you intervened. Grow our faith and boldness in you to that level. We never want to hide our faith in you. Even if it means someone might look down on us, or not approve, give us such a love for you and a strength of conviction that we stand up for you and your truth regardless of the consequences.

Lord, we ask that you show up in our lives and dance with us through the fires. You didn’t keep them out of the fire, but you did join them in it and kept it from harming them. I can’t even imagine how walking through the fire grew their faith in you. If you had changed Nebuchadnezzar’s heart and he chose not to throw them in, I am sure it would have grown their faith, but not as much as being in that fire with you and walking out of it. Help us learn to find and focus on you when we are in the fires of life. We want to trust you and look forward to how those experiences will grow us in you. We praise you that you will always be there with us and will get us through.

In Jesus name, amen.