But…There is a God in Heaven!

Devotional

Day 1: Dreams and Divine Answers

Daniel approached Arioch as Babylonian executioners prepared to kill every wise man. His heartbeat quickened while explaining, “Don’t destroy them—I’ll interpret the king’s dream.” Daniel didn’t boast about his own wisdom. He declared, “There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.” The same God who answered Daniel’s desperate prayer still speaks to those who ask. [07:29]

Nebuchadnezzar’s terror became a stage for God’s glory. Daniel’s boldness flowed not from confidence in himself but from hours spent pleading with the One who holds all secrets. When crisis strikes, God doesn’t hide—He invites His children to seek Him.

What overwhelming situation have you avoided bringing to God? Write it down now. Will you choose today to stop relying on human solutions and ask the Revealer of mysteries for help?

“But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.”
(Daniel 2:28, ESV)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal His solution for one problem you’ve tried to solve alone.
Challenge: Write your most pressing unanswered question on paper. Pray over it for 3 minutes.

Day 2: The Four Lights Decision

Daniel stood before a paranoid king, deflecting all credit to God. His life-or-death moment required more than quick thinking—it demanded alignment with divine guidance. Centuries later, Paul would write, “Do not be conformed to this world...be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” Like Daniel, we navigate decisions through God’s Word, prayer, open doors, and godly counsel. [35:01]

God’s will isn’t a scavenger hunt—it’s a relationship. He gave Scripture as 90% of our roadmap, leaving the final 10% for Spirit-led discernment. When we present our bodies as living sacrifices daily, our minds reset to detect His nudges.

What major decision looms over you? Grab your Bible and check if Scripture already addresses it. Have you surrendered your preferred outcome to Christ’s lordship?

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God.”
(Romans 12:2, ESV)

Prayer: Beg God to align your desires with His Word in one area where you’ve resisted change.
Challenge: Identify one pending decision. Write how each “light” (Scripture, prayer, circumstances, counsel) currently aligns.

Day 3: Lamps for Dark Paths

Nebuchadnezzar tossed in bed, tormented by visions he couldn’t decipher. Meanwhile, Daniel knelt in prayer, oil lamps flickering as he sought the Light of the World. The same God who illuminated Daniel’s mind promises, “Your word is a lamp to my feet.” Laziness with Scripture leaves us stumbling, but daily immersion lights our way. [16:25]

God’s Word isn’t optional equipment—it’s survival gear. When Daniel opened Scripture scrolls, he didn’t find vague principles but specific truths about God’s covenant faithfulness. Our darkest nights crackle with divine electricity when we grip His promises.

Where have you neglected Bible study because it felt inconvenient? What excuse will you sacrifice today to prioritize time in His light?

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
(Psalm 119:105, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one area where you’ve chosen entertainment over Scripture. Ask for hunger to replace apathy.
Challenge: Memorize Psalm 119:105. Recite it every time you reach for your phone today.

Day 4: Counselors in the Storm

Daniel didn’t face Nebuchadnezzar alone—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego prayed alongside him. Later, Paul relied on Antioch church leaders to confirm his missionary call. Scripture warns, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls.” Isolation breeds disaster, but godly counsel anchors us in truth. [51:36]

Satan loves to whisper, “You don’t need accountability.” But even Jesus sent disciples out two by two. Our stubbornness becomes wisdom when tempered by believers who love Christ more than they love our comfort.

Who has permission to speak hard truths into your life? When did you last humble yourself to seek advice before deciding?

“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”
(Proverbs 11:14, ESV)

Prayer: Thank God for someone who corrected you. Ask for courage to heed tough advice.
Challenge: Text a mature believer to schedule a 15-minute conversation about a current struggle.

Day 5: Pressing Toward the Tape

Paul described life as a race requiring focused endurance: “Forgetting what lies behind...I press on.” Daniel’s faithfulness in Babylon didn’t come from sporadic effort but daily surrender. Like a runner fixing eyes on the finish line, we thrive by orienting every decision toward Christ’s ultimate purpose. [25:14]

Procrastination and piddling drain spiritual momentum. But each morning’s prayer—“Lord, use my body, time, and relationships for Your glory”—renews our stride. God doesn’t reward aimless wandering; He crowns purposeful pressing.

What distraction consistently trips your spiritual progress? How will you “lay aside every weight” today to run freer?

“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 3:13-14, ESV)

Prayer: Name one habit hindering your spiritual growth. Ask God for strength to abandon it.
Challenge: Set a phone timer for 5 PM today—pause wherever you are to pray for endurance.

Sermon Summary

Daniel answers Babylon’s panic with prayer, not protest. When Nebuchadnezzar’s nightmare exposes the bankruptcy of his court, the text plants a flag with Daniel’s line, “but there is a God in heaven” who “reveals mysteries.” That God makes kings and breaks them, and he is not stingy. Colossians says all things, seen and unseen, thrones and rulers included, came through Christ and for Christ. So the dream is not random, and life is not random. God is positioning a pagan king and guiding his personal kids, and he delights to make his will known.

Prayer, in this frame, is asking. Jesus says ask, seek, knock. James says the generous God gives wisdom without scolding. So when life is on the line, Daniel does not nap or organize a protest. He asks. Then God answers, and Daniel will not touch the credit. “Not because of any wisdom that I have,” he says. The line points past Daniel to the Revealer.

The claim presses into guidance. God is not glorified by children who wander like life is a roll of the dice. Nine tenths of his will is already inked in Scripture. First things first, God “desires all people to be saved.” Then 1 Thessalonians stamps daily will with verbs: rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances. Sanctification is God’s will too, so sexual sin is out. Ephesians 5 calls it foolish to ignore this. The Bible is searchable, even with a phone; laziness is the deeper obstacle, not lack of tools.

Romans 12 lays out the daily path to the undisclosed tenth. Present the body as a living sacrifice. Refuse the mold of this age. Be transformed by a renewed mind. That is worship, Job-in-the-dirt worship, not just singing. Then discernment grows, and testing proves what is good, acceptable, perfect. Philippians 3 shifts the gait: forget the drag of the past and press. Not piddle, not procrastinate, not merely plod. Press toward the prize.

For the big decisions that are not chapter-and-verse, a harbor map helps. The four lights line up a safe channel. First light is God’s Word. If Scripture says no, drop anchor. Second is God’s Spirit as desires bend toward him in much prayer. Third is God’s doors, the providential opens and shuts, sometimes with adversaries attached. Fourth is God’s people, the godly counsel that loves Christ more than popularity. When those lights align, a soul can move forward with humble boldness. When they don’t, a soul should wait. The God in heaven still reveals, step by step.

Key Takeaways

1. There is a God in heaven. God is not confined to a church address or to past miracles. Daniel stares down an impossible demand and points to the Revealer who rules history and unveils mysteries on his timetable. That sentence steadies a heart when Satan hisses, “Where’s your God now.” The line turns panic into prayer and puts credit where it belongs. [10:06]
2. Prayer asks, and God gives wisdom. Biblical prayer is not vague ambiance. It is asking a generous Father for specific help, especially when life is on the line. Praise without petition is beautiful, but it is not yet prayer. The God who commands “ask, seek, knock” delights to answer with wisdom that corrects the next step. [07:06]
3. Nine-tenths of will is written. Most of the will of God is not a riddle but a page away. Salvation, joy, ceaseless prayer, gratitude, holiness, and sexual integrity are settled issues. The gap is rarely information but inertia, and laziness masquerades as confusion. Obedience to the clear nine-tenths positions a soul to hear the rest. [15:57]
4. Line up the four lights. God’s Word, God’s Spirit, God’s doors, and God’s people give a channel through treacherous waters. If any light is out of line, drop anchor and wait. When they align, move forward even if adversaries bark at the doorway. Guidance is rarely a flash flood; it is usually a lined-up stream. [53:08]
5. Press, don’t piddle or procrastinate. Philippians 3 pictures discipleship as racing, not loitering. Pressing means cutting weights that are not sins but still slow the soul, refocusing attention, and asking for ten more years not to coast but to break the tape. Drift feels safe and organized, but only pressing finishes well. [25:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:24] - Open Bibles and Setup
[00:45] - Life updates and surgery humor
[02:12] - Meningitis story and haunting dreams
[03:46] - Nebuchadnezzar’s nightmare and demand
[04:35] - Death decree for the wise men
[05:44] - Daniel chooses prayer over protest
[06:38] - Prayer is asking a generous God
[07:59] - Daniel before Arioch and the king
[08:52] - “There is a God in heaven”
[10:37] - Hope in hellish seasons
[12:01] - Christ the creator and king breaker
[13:12] - God reveals will to kings and kids
[15:57] - Nine-tenths of God’s will already written
[18:57] - God’s will to save and sanctify
[19:20] - Rejoice, pray, give thanks as will
[21:05] - Holiness and sexual integrity
[22:54] - Don’t be foolish, seek wisdom
[23:42] - One thing and pressing toward the goal
[25:41] - Procrastinate, piddle, plod vs press
[29:08] - Present your body daily, Romans 12
[31:27] - Living sacrifice and real worship
[32:47] - Job’s worship in the dirt
[34:19] - Be transformed to discern God’s will
[35:22] - Big decisions and the four lights
[37:14] - Fjord buoys and safe passage
[39:02] - Word, Spirit, Doors, People defined
[40:59] - Light one Scripture in the lead
[44:00] - Light two Spirit-shaped desires
[47:24] - Light three open and shut doors
[50:46] - Light four counsel that loves Christ
[53:08] - Recap and lining up the lights
[56:03] - Drop anchor until they align
[56:43] - Start pressing toward the goal
[57:18] - Prayer for lives that finish well

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
- Daniel 2:24-28 (ESV)
- Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
- Colossians 1:16 (ESV)

Observation questions

What specific phrase does Daniel use to contrast his own limitations with God’s power when interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream? (Daniel 2:27-28) [08:52]
According to Romans 12:2, what two actions are required to discern God’s will?
The sermon mentions “nine-tenths of God’s will” is already revealed. What examples of this are given (e.g., salvation, holiness)? [15:57]
What four “lights” are listed as guidance for major decisions? [39:02]

Interpretation questions

Why does Daniel emphasize that the dream’s interpretation comes “not because of any wisdom that I have” (Daniel 2:30)? How does this contrast with worldly approaches to problem-solving?
Romans 12:1 calls believers to present their bodies as a “living sacrifice.” How does this daily act of surrender relate to worship beyond singing? [31:27]
The sermon warns against “laziness masquerading as confusion” about God’s will. Why might obedience to the “nine-tenths” of Scripture prepare someone to discern the remaining “tenth”? [15:57]
How do the “four lights” (God’s Word, Spirit, doors, and people) work together to prevent impulsive or self-deceived decisions? [40:59]

Application questions

When facing a crisis, do you default to protest, panic, or prayer like Daniel? What practical step could help you shift toward prayer first? [05:44]
The “nine-tenths” of God’s will includes commands like “rejoice always” and “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Which of these do you find hardest to obey daily? What would it look like to prioritize it this week?
Reflect on a recent decision. How did (or didn’t) the “four lights” align? If they didn’t, what would “dropping anchor” look like in that situation? [56:03]
The sermon warns against “piddling, procrastinating, or plodding” in faith. What distraction or delay is currently keeping you from “pressing” toward God’s purpose? [25:41]
How could you cultivate relationships with “God’s people” (Light #4) who love Christ more than popularity—and are willing to speak hard truths to you? [52:27]
What habit (e.g., Scripture reading, fasting, prayer journaling) could help you present yourself daily as a “living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1)? [29:36]

Sermon Clips

39s

“Ain't it about time you stopped procrastinating, stopped the peddling, stopped the plotting, and started pressing toward the goal. And if you press toward the goal, you need to know where the goal is. God's will for you. How do I start, John? I just showed you. Present yourself daily. Romans twelve one and two. I I double dog dare you to just open the Bible and just just pray that and personalize it it. When you pray it, take you just a few minutes every morning. Take those next steps as he's showing you. Line those lights up in the big decisions. Head toward his perfect will for you.”

27s

“Did you come to a point in time where you realize that he is God and he came down and lived a perfect sinless life? He went to the cross. He died on the cross as the scriptures say. He went into the grave three days, three nights, and then rose as the scriptures say, victorious over the grave, and on the cross with his blood, he paid your sin debt. And all you need to do is say, I want that. Please, may I have that? That's his will.”

25s

“God wants to speak to you. He wants to lead He wants to show you his will, but you gotta put in the time. If you want your life to count, if you don't wanna screw up your life, you see those lights lining up? You could be reasonably sure. Get to God that's God's direction in your life. If one of them doesn't line up, drop anchor. Don't do that thing. Don't go that place. Don't marry that person until you get wisdom.”

29s

“God's no. Sometimes Satan opens the doors too. See, not every open door is the door for you. That's why you have to be walking in in this way. You have to be in his word and and finding everything he says about that decision or that situation. And then you have to be in prayer going, God, please. I know. And I tell him this, Lord, I'm I'm a numbskull sometimes. I'm a hard head. Lord, I and and so I got my own desires and all. I I need you to break through all of that. I need you to show me, God. I I can screw this up big.”

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But…There is a God in Heaven!

Devotional

Day 1: Dreams and Divine Answers

Day 2: The Four Lights Decision

Day 3: Lamps for Dark Paths

Day 4: Counselors in the Storm

Day 5: Pressing Toward the Tape

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

But…There is a God in Heaven!

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