Prayer/Fast – Day 17

Daniel 3:16-18

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Today’s key passage came from www.youversion.com – the 21-Day Fast reading plan.  It is day 17 in the plan if you started on January 10^th – the day our congregation’s prayer/fast began.  It comes from the reading of the day – Daniel 3.

Are you hanging in there?  Only a few days left.  What is God speaking to your heart during your prayer time?  Starting Sunday I went on leave and have had more time to read, reflect and pray and God is giving me some awesome times in His presence.  I hope to be able to share some of it with you in future poss.

Today’s passage is one of my favorite Bible stories.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were set up to disobey the governing authority while obeying their God.  The punishment for disobeying was death – death in the fiery furnace if you remember the story.  Their faith was in their God so they didn’t disobey Him – and faced the punishment – which if you know the story – God delivered them out of without even a burn mark on their clothes.

What issue are you facing where you have a decision to obey God or the government?  Obey God or your desires?  Obey God or listen to another?  Are you placing more faith and trust in the government or God?  On self or God?  On others or on God?

As we enter the home stretch of our prayer/fast – have we struggled some with obeying the flesh more than the spirit?  The boys believed they might die – but they would not disobey God.  They believed their God could save them – but even if He didn’t – they would not worship the image the King had created.  God was God whether He saved them or not!  Awesome story – please take the time to read it all.

Daniel 9:3 – So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. Have you been spending more time praying?  Have you set aside time every day to be before the Lord?

Personal Report:  I’ve made it through 16 days without a Diet Pepsi.  No sugar – fewer calories – no Words with Friends – and more time for me and God.  Day 17 is before us – only 5 more days – counting today!

I will continue to pray for you as you walk through these days of our prayer/fast.  I pray God begins to speak to you and that you will share it with others.

If you wish to join me reading the same plans on www.youversion.com they are a yearlong reading plan called Robert Roberts – day 26 today – the Gospels in 30 days  - day 18 today – and the 21-Day Fast – day 17 today.  Join me or try other reading plans.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

Today’s Awakening devotion can be found here!

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