We as humans are a lot like sheep. And the Lord is our Shepherd. If we truly understand how a good shepherd cares for his flock of sheep, we would take comfort in the Lord's care for us and be able to find true rest in Him.

Daniel gained respect and favor in Babylon by being faithful and consistent in his life, his workplace, his relationship with God, & the face of hardship. Ultimately, Daniel is a picture of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, who will be faithful till the end!

God made us to experience everything life has to offer, including our feelings, and when not impaired, ALL of it will ultimately lead us to Him. So let's live as we were made by 1) feeling our feelings, 2) being honest with what's going on inside us, & 3) living out our freedom by letting go and letting God! 

Daniel interpreted the writing on the wall for King Belshazzar at his feast in which he was defiling the holy vessels of the Temple of God. It read, "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin", or "Numbered, numbered, weighted, divided." God was stating that He Is, He Knows, and He Acts. 

Let Go & Let God! 

Wrapping up the series on Forgiveness by Gil Mertz.

Reclaim my purpose for the future...

Restore my peace in the present...

Resolve my pain of the past...

We all want to be "self-made" men and women. We all battle with pride. Will you allow the Most High God to be king of your life? Let's learn from King Nebuchadnezzar's mistake and let heavan rule, because in the end, God will always get the glory. 

"Release My Power of Forgiveness":

Everyone needs forgiveness! Unforgiveness can cause a heavy toll on us physically, relationally, emotionally, mentally, & spiritually. We don't need more faith, we simply need to release/exercise the faith we already have. 

Ch. 2 - Daniel interpreted King Nebuchadezzar's dream, which turned out to be a prophecy of the future empires.

Ch. 3 - Hananiah, Mishael, & Azariah refused to worship/bow down to the king's golden statue and were thrown into the fiery furnace, but Jesus rescued them!