August 18
Daniel 5
Handwriting appears on the wall, prophesying the king’s death.
INSIGHT
It is a terrible thing to go into the presence of God in our own merit. All have sinned and fall short of His glory. Belshazzar discovers this truth. While he revels—desecrating the holy implements from the temple—the hand of God writes on the wall: “You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting” (v. 27). In the providence and grace of God, we can come before Him in the merit of Christ Jesus—holy and undefiled.
PRAYER
Jesus Christ took our place on the cross. His great sacrifice requires our praise:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:3-6).
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
“Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen” (Matthew 6:11-13).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints!
For the Lord preserves the faithful,
And fully repays the proud person.
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord (Psalm 31:23-24).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
-- Greater gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice
-- Your neighbors’ spiritual well being
-- Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to God:
Oh, how great is Your goodness,
Which You have laid up for those who fear You,
Which You have prepared for those who trust in You
In the presence of the sons of men! (Psalm 31:19).
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