Steven Wales

WHAT IS YOUR DESTINY? Daniel 12:3,13.

People talk a lot about “destiny,” as if it is all known and planned out. And perhaps it is. God certainly knows the future. But He gives us so many choices. You will only achieve a great destiny by making hard choices. Destiny can mean fame, riches, a good marriage, a loving home, or manyContinue reading “WHAT IS YOUR DESTINY? Daniel 12:3,13.”

Eternity is Real-er Than This Life. Daniel 12:2-3

At the end of days, what will be your destiny? (Did you know you can be a star in the Lord’s kingdom?) “Those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to shame and eternal contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the bright blue skyContinue reading “Eternity is Real-er Than This Life. Daniel 12:2-3”

WHAT IS TRULY HIGH PRAISE? Daniel 10:12-13.

What have been your favorite compliments? I recently wrote a list of favorites from my whole life—I came up with 37, including one or two from each of you! But several people in the Bible were praised by God—now THAT’S high praise! God called Abraham His friend, Genesis 18:17. He said Job spoke rightly ofContinue reading “WHAT IS TRULY HIGH PRAISE? Daniel 10:12-13.”

Pray and Never Give Up! Daniel 10:12

Do you have a problem you are praying about? Daniel prayed about a problem for three weeks. Finally an angel came and explained something to him: “Don’t be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you prayed and humbled yourself before God, your prayers were answered. I have come because of your prayers. ButContinue reading “Pray and Never Give Up! Daniel 10:12”

Corporate Sin. Daniel 9:8-9.

Americans, more than any other culture, are obsessed with independence. We tell ourselves we can do what we want. We cherish individual freedom over everything else, to the point that we would rather be self-destructive than submit to someone else’s idea of how we should live. But our selfish obsession with “liberty,” “self-actualization,” “self-care,” orContinue reading “Corporate Sin. Daniel 9:8-9.”

GOD IS HIGH AND LIFTED UP. Daniel 7:9-10,13-14,27.

God is love. He cuddles little children. He calls Abraham His “friend,” and tells Abraham His plans—because that’s what friends do, Gen 18:17 (Amp.). (Perhaps we should pray THAT: ‘God, tell me what You are doing… because I am your friend.’) But don’t snuggle up so cozy with God that you forget He is “theContinue reading “GOD IS HIGH AND LIFTED UP. Daniel 7:9-10,13-14,27.”

GOD-IS-MY-GIRLFRIEND MUSIC. Daniel 7:9-10.

Does your music help you grow in Christ? Christian pop and many worship songs emphasize our intimate friendship with God. He is our loving, intimate friend. Those who scorn such music have called it “God-is-my-Girlfriend Music.” But I don’t scorn it—it beats regular-girlfriend music. We are the Bride of Christ; intimate friendship is His desire.Continue reading “GOD-IS-MY-GIRLFRIEND MUSIC. Daniel 7:9-10.”

ANCESTOR WORSHIP. Ezekiel 43:7,9.

There is an interesting line in Alex Haley’s novel ROOTS. When the author travels to West Africa, he discovers that the tribe of his ancestors requires children to be able to recite their ancestry to ten generations. But ten generations would include over a thousand people. It’s understood that children were memorizing only one branchContinue reading “ANCESTOR WORSHIP. Ezekiel 43:7,9.”

DANIEL NEVER FAILED. Daniel 6:10-11.

Daniel is one of few Bible heroes who never failed. There’s “Daniel in the Lions’ Den.” There’s Daniel interpreting dreams. Daniel insisting on a diet of vegetables in order to avoid breaking God’s law by eating unclean meats. There’s even a VeggieTales version in which, while being thrown to the lions, Daniel (played by LarryContinue reading “DANIEL NEVER FAILED. Daniel 6:10-11.”

CONSISTENCY. Daniel 6:5-16.

What do you do consistently? Do you run every day? Eat potato chips every day? Pray every day? People notice the things you do consistently. Three kings rewarded Daniel for his consistency. When others became jealous, they hatched a plan that would land Daniel in a pit filled with starving lions. They wanted to trapContinue reading “CONSISTENCY. Daniel 6:5-16.”