Resting in God's Grace

south ridge church

Sep 25

(Begin with 1-2 minutes of silence)

Psalm 119:1 Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD.

Have you ever met somebody who seemed to live with an ongoing level of peace and contentment no matter what circumstances came their way? Maybe they had a Bible with poor binding because they read it so often. Or maybe they had given up trying to control life's circumstances and instead just rested in God's grace. Or maybe it was a bit of both.

In Daniel Chapter 5, we can infer that Daniel was this kind of person. All in all, about 65-66 years have passed since the Babylonian Empire overthrew the nation of Israel. This means that Daniel is now much older, yet he has continued to serve the Babylonian government in an official capacity. He is now observing a young, inexperienced, prideful son of a king make terrible decisions about the Empire. And in his old age, the thought that his entire life has been spent away from his homeland probably hasn't been lost on him. Despite these circumstances, his relationship with God and his peace of mind has remained strong.

READING & PRAYERS:

DANIEL 5:1-31 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)

QUESTION: On a scale of 1-10, how well have you rested in God's grace over the past week? In what ways may God be inviting you to rest in Him today?

REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Write down a list of a few things that help you experience peace and contentment in life. Then consider creating a plan that leads to you saying "yes" to these things more regularly and "no" to others.

Take a Step: This week, consider utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily to begin practicing being with God and resting in His presence. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices. See pauseapp.com for details.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I sometimes have no idea what it would look like for me to really rest. I feel like I'm being pulled in so many different directions it's difficult for me to even think about resting, let alone actually experiencing it. Help me, today, to set aside my worry and anxiety, and to rest in Your presence. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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