15 I’ll give you one more chance. When the music plays, if you fall down and worship the statue, all will be well. But if you refuse, you will be thrown into a flaming furnace within the hour. And what god can deliver you out of my hands then?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not worried about what will happen to us. 17 If we are thrown into the flaming furnace, our God is able to deliver us; and he will deliver us out of your hand, Your Majesty.   Daniel 3:15-17 TLB I love all scripture that is declarative, boasting about our God and His abilities.   The moment where you boast about how big your God is and how small your situation has now become. Sometimes we minimize our God when raving about our circumstances.  But how about we minimize our circumstances and rave about our God? Pastor Tim Delina says it this way, "To have faith in God is to believe He is and who He said He is.  Faith honors God and God honors faith. Faith cashes God’s checks(prayer). Faith in God will not get you everything you want, but it will get you everything God wants for you.” -  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were saved from that fiery furnace indeed.  God showed up and walked them out.  Their faith and declaration became the declaration of the entire nation.  In Daniel 1 when they chose not to eat from the king’s table they saw God for themselves, not the God they simply read about but the God they had experienced with their own eyes.  They knew God’s power, His ability to sustain and His consistency to deliver.  That is how they knew that God was able. Takeaway Statement:   Numbers 23:16 “God is not a man, one given to lies and not a son of man changing his mind. Does he speak and not do what he says?  Does he promise and not come through?” His faithfulness in the past is His resume’ for your future.

“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.”  Luke 22:39 When you are faced with a lot of changes and possibly new ways of doing things it is important to get back to your mental norm.  In Luke chapter 22, Jesus has just had the Passover supper with his disciples,he has just released Judas to finish out his betrayal, within minutes after supper ending, those same disciples are now bickering about who is the greatest.  He then lectures them about the greatest among you must be a servant, shortly after that he warns Peter that Satan has asked to sift you like wheat,  he then tells him that before the rooster crows you will deny even knowing me 3 times.  He warns them of the impending danger, to stay on guard and stay ready,  he rebukes them for misunderstanding yet again and finally when He has had enough, he retreats to a solitary place to pray. Luke 22:39 is powerful because of two words: as usual.  As usual is the customary way of doing things; habitual, consistent, ordinary practice of getting things done.  It is a particular mindset that brings about a consistent result.  Jesus steps away from everything to get back to as usual.   As he pulled away from them, he centered himself and got back to business.  All he needed was a moment to remember his why and he quickly found his way.  As usual could be a rally cry when we are overwhelmed or overstimulated. What does your as usual need to be today? Prayer: Help us to do everything today in freedom and with peace as usual, not overthinking but resting in your presence, just our ordinary practice of getting things done.

Do you have doubt? Mark 9:17-22 (The Backstory to our frustration and doubt) 17 Out of the crowd, one man answered Him, “Teacher, I brought my son to You. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak. 18 Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.” 19 He replied to them, “You unbelieving generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to Me.” 20 So they brought him to Him. When the spirit saw Him, it immediately convulsed the boy. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 “How long has this been happening to him?” Jesus asked his father. “From childhood,” he said. 22 “And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus hears your pain and speaks to your doubt. 23 Then Jesus said to him, “‘If You can’?[a][b] Everything is possible to the one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief.” • I believe but help me in the areas where I am lacking... • Help me in the places where I can't see yet • Help me in the areas where I still have doubt 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly coming together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit,[c] I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” 26 Then it came out, shrieking and convulsing him[d] violently. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.” • Jesus is ready to meet your need and help you through your doubt