27/07/23
JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
Today’s Word
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites—Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, the sons of Anak.
Joshua 15:14, NIV
Take Down Giants
When the Promised Land was divided up and given to the families of the Israelites, Caleb could have asked for an easy section. But instead he asked for the mountain where three giants still lived, the place where the Israelites had refused to go, which resulted in Caleb wandering with them in the wilderness for forty years. He said, “Give me this mountain that God promised me. This is my destiny.”
Where are some giants that you can bring down? Where are some people you can lift up? There’s nothing worse than to come to the end of life and realize you never took your promised land. It is not in the average or in the routine or thel comfortable, but it is in the cause. It is doing something out of the ordinary, getting involved in something that isn’t about you, making your neighborhood better, blessing that coworker, bringing down a giant. Make up your mind to not live comfort-driven, but cause-driven. Then you’ll defeat your greatest enemies and reach your promised land.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You are the Most High God and that no giant is too great for You. Thank You that You have causes for me to fight, for people to lift up and support, and to help drive out giants. Help me to be like Caleb and be bold to take my promised land. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
PART TWO
The book of Daniel records how King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made a towering golden statue and commanded all in his kingdom to bow down before it and worship it. Three young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, whom the king had appointed to oversee the province of Babylon, refused to do so. Humiliated by their defiance, the king was livid. He gave them one more chance to bow down and worship his golden statue or be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace.
Without flinching, they said, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t…we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up” (Dan. 3:16–18, NLT). The king commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual, and ordered some of his strongest soldiers to bind them and throw them into the furnace. The furnace was so hot that the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men into the roaring flames, securely bound.
Suddenly, the king jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his officials, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Dan. 3:24–25). Nebuchadnezzar called out, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” The three men stepped out of the fire and all the officials and advisers crowded around them and “saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched” (Dan. 3:26–27, NLT). In fact, the flames only served to loose them from their bonds.
Amazed at how their God had protected them, Nebuchadnezzar began praising God himself. The king then issued a decree stating that if any person spoke a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, they would be cut in pieces and their houses would be turned into ash heaps “because there is no other God who can deliver like this” (Dan. 3:29). Then, the king promoted the three men to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.
Beloved, this is your God.
https://www.josephprince.com/meditate-devo/jesus-is-with-us-in-our-troubles
Dara Network TV 