However much spiritual declension and backsliding there is in the church of God, we who are the Lord’s servants have much to encourage us. For instance, we know that God is still on the throne (Heb. 1:1-3); that He is working His purpose out (Rom.8:28); that the Lord Jesus Christ is engaged in building His church, and that His purpose will not fail (Mt.16:18); that daily men and women are being saved and added to the Lord (Acts 2:47); that the Holy Spirit is calling out a people to the name of Christ (Acts 15:14); that our labor is not in vain (1 Cor.15:58); and that the Lord of the harvest is coming back again soon (Mt.24:42).

About 475 B.C., Queen Esther asked the burning question that forms the key-verse of this devotion. She was referring of course, to her own people, the Jews, who were in very grave danger. A degree had been signed that all the Jews were to be put to death. (Esther 3:13) Esther was horrified, and filled with concern for their deliverance. Her words have something solemn to say to us, for :

    In this chapter David is brought before us a type of the Lord Jesus Christ.
    David was God’s appointed king, but initially only a few accepted him as
    such; the majority gave their allegiance to Saul, who was rejected by God.

    Is is possible to live a victorious, God-glorifying, heart-satisfying life in this
    world of unrest and increasing spiritual and moral darkness? Yes, it is!
    Nowhere in the Bible is the life of victory more strikingly portrayed than in
    2 Corinthians 2:14-17, the key verse of which is verse 14.

Part III

6.  The Kind Of Testimony He Bore. (vs:15,16)
     a. He bore a testimony in his face. (vs:15). It is a wonderful testimony when our faces shine for the glory of God. (Exd.34:35;Acts 6:15)
     b. He bore a testimony in his head. (vs:17). Look up Pro.3:13;James 1:5.

Part II

3.  The Kind Of Companions He Chose. (vs:6,7)
     Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were three Hebrews who had been captured and brought to Babylon with Daniel, and directly they were all set to work in "the university of Babylon" their names were changed. Daniel (The Lord is judge) became Belteshazzar (Bel's Prince). Hananiah (The Lord is gracious) became Shadrach (The command of Aku, the moon god). Mishael (Who is like God?) became Meshach (who is an Aku?). Azariah (The Lord is a helper) became Abendego (the servant of Nebo, the god of intelligence).

Daniel-1:1-21

Although the book of Daniel has been fiercely attacked by the critics, let us remember that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself spoke of " Daniel the prophet " (Matthew 24:15). The twelve chapters of Daniel are easy to read, but by no means easy to understand.They contain dreams and visions, all of which to the unfolding of history and to the closing events of the age. In these devotions I want to spend the time looking at Daniel's life and long service towards God. Daniel is three times described as the "man greatly loved" (Dan.9:23,10:11,19); he was a fine character, with an unblemished record. Lets notice seven things about Daniel.

4. WHEN TROUBLE CAME THEY RETURNED TO THE LORD.
Verse 4 tells us this, and from verses 5 and 6 we find that the trouble came because they had left God out of their reckoning and out of their lives.Trouble will always come to nations and to individuals if they reject the Lord.

2. THEY WERE WITHOUT A TEACHING PRIEST.
A "teaching Priest" was one whose duty it was to teach the people the truth of God. Who are the teaching priest today? Every faithful preacher and teacher of the Word of God is one of God's teaching priests. But the majority of

In this series of devotions we are to consider some of the Secrets of Successful Living. Of course, no one can begin to live successfully without knowing God, and first of all we must understand how we can come to know Him for ourselves. The subject is brought before us in  2 Chronicles 15:1-19, and it is pin-pointed in the above key verses.