God's Got My Back [Unshakable] — Pastor Jason Burns

Sep 20, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: When Snakes and Pressure Washers Reveal Hidden Courage

A moment of unexpected bravery often emerges when we least feel prepared. Like facing a sudden threat with a shaky broom, courage isn’t about feeling fearless but choosing to act despite fear. True heroism isn’t reserved for the naturally bold—it’s found in ordinary people who decide someone else’s safety matters more than their panic. This kind of resolve grows from a heart already oriented toward selflessness, not grandiosity. When priorities are clear, even the most hesitant can sweep snakes out of garages. Courage isn’t the absence of fear but the presence of love in action. [01:20]

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.’” (Daniel 3:16–18, ESV)

Reflection: When has a moment demanded courage you didn’t know you had? How did choosing others over your fear reveal God’s strength in your weakness?

Day 2: Thermostats Don’t Complain About the Temperature

Culture constantly shifts, demanding we conform or comment. But thermostats don’t merely reflect heat—they reset it. Followers of Jesus are called to actively shape environments, not passively critique them. This requires clarity: Will we prioritize comfort or mission? A selfless life doesn’t wait for ideal conditions but creates warmth in cold spaces. Changing the world starts with small, intentional choices to serve rather than spectate. [10:28]

“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, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you settled for reflecting culture instead of resetting it? What one step could shift your home or workplace from a thermometer to a thermostat?

Day 3: Integrity Closes Elevators Before Lions Roar

Living with integrity means closing doors to compromise long before crises arise. Like Daniel avoiding even the appearance of impurity, holiness isn’t a reaction—it’s a preemptive lifestyle. Small, daily “elevator exits” build the resilience needed to face lions later. Integrity isn’t about perfection but a stubborn refusal to let fear or convenience erode your witness. [21:33]

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.” (Philippians 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: What “elevator moment” have you ignored that could lead to compromise? How might closing that door today prepare you for tomorrow’s lions?

Day 4: Worship Is What You Do When the Zither Plays

Culture’s soundtrack—whether flattery or fear—demands our bow. True worship isn’t a ritual but a rebellion: standing when others kneel, silent when others chant. Like Shadrach’s defiance, worship declares, “Even if He doesn’t deliver us,” God alone deserves our yes. It’s less about singing and more about surrendering—the daily choice to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength. [24:40]

“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.’” (Matthew 22:37–38, ESV)

Reflection: What “zither” in your life tempts you to bow to fear or approval? How would standing instead change your relationships or routines?

Day 5: When God Shuts Lion Mouths, He Opens Nations

Miracles follow faithfulness. Daniel’s integrity didn’t just save him—it converted kings. Our courage in crisis isn’t for our glory but to display God’s power to a watching world. Every furnace and lion’s den is a stage for divine intervention. Trusting God’s deliverance—whether here or in eternity—fuels a faith that reshapes history. [28:06]

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.” (1 Peter 5:8–9, ESV)

Reflection: What current “lion’s den” feels impossible? How might your steadfastness there become a testimony to someone else’s doubt?

Sermon Summary

Courage is not mainly an extra dose of bravery that some people are born with. Courage is the selfless decision that somebody else, something bigger, or God’s call matters more than personal comfort in the moment. Priorities matter because a person cannot wait until the pressure comes to decide what he or she will stand for.

Culture shifts fast, and the question is not whether the ground will move underneath God’s people, but what they will do when it does. Christ does not ask His people to escape the world, but to live in it without belonging to it. The church is called to be a thermostat, not a thermometer, changing the temperature in homes, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, Lakeland, and Bartow instead of just commenting on how dark things have become.

Daniel 3 shows Nebuchadnezzar putting up an image of gold and demanding worship through fear. Fear becomes culture’s favorite motivator: bow, comply, or suffer the consequences. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answer with resolve that still hits hard: God is able to deliver, but “even if he does not,” they will not bow. Their refusal shows that worship is settled before the fire ever gets hot.

Daniel 6 shows the same battle from the other side. Darius does not command Daniel to worship a false god; he forbids Daniel from worshiping the true one. Daniel’s integrity leaves his enemies with only one way to trap him: make faithfulness illegal. Integrity means being whole, not living one version at church and another version through the week. Daniel keeps praying openly, just as he had done before, because pressure does not get to rewrite devotion.

Satan’s old goal is to exalt man above God and to stop the worship of God. Pride makes life about self, but worship puts God back where He belongs. Jesus names worship as loving God with heart, soul, mind, and strength: affection, attention, and ability. God deserves more than leftover love, distracted thoughts, and unused gifts. God’s people find purpose when their strength serves somebody else rather than circling endlessly around self.

God stands with those who stand for Him. The fire cannot consume the men who refuse to bow, and the lions cannot devour the man who refuses to stop praying. Culture may demand worship, but God’s people can decide ahead of time: when culture demands a bow, they will stand.

Key Takeaways

1. Courage begins with settled priorities Courage is not usually a dramatic feeling that arrives at the perfect moment. Courage grows from deciding beforehand that God’s will matters more than safety, comfort, approval, or reputation. Selflessness gives courage its strength because it moves the focus away from self-protection. A life with clear priorities can step into hard moments instead of backing away from them. [06:18]
2. Be a thermostat, not a thermometer Culture does not need more Christians who only report what is broken, corrupt, or frightening. God calls His people to carry a different temperature into the places where they live and work. A changed home, workplace, school, or neighborhood often begins with one person who refuses to merely reflect the environment. Faithfulness becomes cultural influence when it is lived with courage and love. [10:28]
3. Integrity is a whole life Daniel’s enemies could not find a charge against him because his public life and private devotion matched. Integrity refuses to compartmentalize faith into a church version and a weekday version. Wise boundaries protect more than reputation; they honor God, spouses, families, and the people affected by a believer’s witness. Wholeness makes accusation far less believable because character has become consistent. [18:33]
4. Worship refuses fear’s demands Nebuchadnezzar used fear to demand a bow, while Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered with “even if he does not.” Faith does not depend on getting the preferred outcome from God. Worship declares that God is worthy even when obedience costs dearly and deliverance does not look immediate. That kind of resolve breaks the power of intimidation. [24:40]
5. God deserves affection, attention, and ability Love for God reaches beyond songs or Sunday attendance into what receives the heart, occupies the mind, and directs daily strength. Anxiety often grows where life becomes consumed with self, personal scarcity, and personal survival. Service redirects God-given gifts toward somebody else and opens the way into divine purpose. Worship becomes real when God receives the first and best of life.

## [32:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:20] - A Surprise Moment of Courage
[04:59] - Heroism and Selfless Priorities
[07:54] - Culture Shifts and Courage Stands
[09:51] - Thermostats, Not Thermometers
[11:47] - The Battle for Worship
[13:21] - Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden Image
[16:14] - Fear as Culture’s Motivator
[17:40] - Daniel’s Life of Integrity
[22:06] - The Decree Against Prayer
[24:06] - Satan’s Goal for Worship
[24:40] - Even If God Does Not Deliver
[26:20] - Daniel Prays Despite the Law
[28:44] - Worship With Heart, Mind, and Strength
[33:40] - When Culture Demands a Bow

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Daniel 3:16-18
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.’” [00:24:40]

Daniel 6:10
“When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.” [00:26:20]

Mark 12:30
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” [00:28:44]

John 17:15-16
“I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” [00:11:47]

Observation questions

What two possible outcomes do Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego acknowledge in their answer to Nebuchadnezzar, and what remains unchanged in either outcome? [00:24:40]
What details in Daniel 6:10 show that Daniel’s prayer life was visible, regular, and unchanged after the law was signed? [00:26:20]
According to John 17:15-16, what does Jesus ask the Father to do for His followers, and what does He not ask Him to do?
In Mark 12:30, what four parts of a person are named in the command to love God, and how are they connected to affection, attention, and ability? [00:28:44]

Interpretation questions

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego believed God was able to rescue them, yet they were willing to remain faithful even if He did not rescue them from the furnace. What does this reveal about worship that is not based on getting a preferred outcome? [00:25:01]
Daniel’s enemies could find no charge against him except in connection with the law of his God. What does this suggest about the kind of consistent character believers are called to develop at home, work, and church? [00:18:33]
Jesus says His followers are in the world but not of it. How can believers bring a godly influence into their communities without simply adopting the values and patterns around them? [00:10:28]
If worship includes a person’s heart, mind, and strength, what are some ways fear, comfort, approval, or self-focus can compete for the place that belongs to God? [00:32:38]

Application questions

Courage grows from settled priorities before the pressure arrives. What is one area where you may be tempted to choose comfort, approval, or safety over faithfulness to God? What decision can you make now, before that pressure comes? [00:06:18]
Culture often uses fear to make people bow—fear of rejection, conflict, loss, embarrassment, or missing out. Which kind of fear has the strongest pull in your life right now, and what would it look like to stand faithfully in that situation? [00:16:38]
Daniel continued praying “as he had done previously.” What spiritual practice would help your devotion to God become more steady and less dependent on circumstances? [00:26:37]
Integrity means being whole rather than living one version of life at church and another during the week. Is there a part of your life where your words, habits, relationships, or online presence need to become more consistent with your faith? [00:18:33]
God calls His people to be thermostats, not thermometers. Where has God placed you—at home, work, school, or in your neighborhood—to bring peace, courage, truth, generosity, or servant-hearted love instead of merely complaining about what is wrong? [00:10:28]
Loving God with all your mind includes giving Him your attention. What most often captures your thoughts when you wake up, feel stressed, or worry about the future? What could help you intentionally turn that attention toward God this week? [00:30:36]
Loving God with all your strength includes using your abilities to serve others. What gift, skill, time, or energy has God given you that could bless someone else in a practical way this week? [00:32:25]

Sermon Clips

39s

#PurposeThroughService

“Because if you all you do is work for you, work for your paycheck, work to keep food on the table. Nothing wrong with those things. Do those things. But you're the focus of all of it. Where where does anxiety come from? An extreme amount of self focus. But if you wanna live a life of purpose, live your life in a way to serve somebody else. This is the reason that every single month on the first and second Sunday of the month, we do an event called our next steps class. Next steps class is about joining the church, but it's also about finding a place to use your giftings and talents to serve somebody else.”

54s

#FaithOverFear

“Here's what I want you to understand. This is true then, and a version of this is true now. Roughly a third of the Bible is prophetic. The book of Daniel is called a prophetic book. Literally, what it means is if it was true then we need to pay attention because it can happen to us now. And here's the principle from this first story. It's that culture's motivation for worship is fear. I'm going to scare you. If you don't do what we tell you to do, we're going to kill you. If you don't do what we command that you do, there will be some sort of consequence to you. You have felt social pressure in your life. If you don't do what we tell you to do, you don't do what our group of friends is doing, we're gonna exclude you. If you don't sleep with me, I'm gonna ignore you. If you don't like, we feel pressured. Like, this happens to all of us. And culture will always use fear as a motivator to get you to obey what it wants you to do”

44s

#WorshipWithPriority

“Because they love their team so much that they would do that. And what's funny is we'll do that for a team. We'll spend more money to get up close front seats for a concert, something we love. But when it comes to worshiping the God of the universe, we'll roll in late. We'll wake up and say, I've had a busy week. I'm gonna sit this one out. We we will pay crazy amounts of money to get close seats to a sporting event, to a concert, but we will fight for seats in the very back of the room.”

38s

#ServeWithPurpose

“Here's the thing. There's lots of things clamoring for your time. Every single person who's ever lived on the face of this earth wishes in some capacity that days were a little longer, that we had a little bit more time to get all the things done that we want to get done. Can I teach you the secret to not living anxious about your time? It's to use some of your time to serve somebody else. To use some of your energy. The God given gifts and talents that he's placed inside of you to use those to serve and to bless somebody else. Why does this matter?”

39s

#ChangeTheCulture

“We can literally change the world. Here's another way to see it. It's that we will either set the culture or we're going to reflect the culture. We we can be a part of the change or we can just be people who comment on it. And come on, there's lots of Christians who are really good at reflecting on the culture. Aren't there? You you know these people. You're friends with them on social media. Hopefully, it's none of us. But there are people who will just comment on every little thing. They'll give their opinion on every news story, every problem that's happening in our city and around the world. It's easy to reflect the culture,”

44s

#LiveSelflessly

“And I just wanna say to you, we can be a part of that solution. We can't change the whole country. We can't change the whole world. But here's what it means. It means we can change the cities of Lakeland and Barto. It means we can change our surrounding communities. It does mean that if a group full of Christians, like on any given Sunday, there's about 3,000 or more people that come to our church. Beyond that, there's thousands of people who come but just don't come every single week. Beyond that, there's thousands of people who are connected to our church in some way. And what it means is if that many people would just get this idea in their hearts that I'm going to live a selfless, heroic kind of life, that I'm gonna be a part of what God is doing in the world. And I'm not just gonna live for me selfishly.”

36s

#GodHasYourBack

“But remember, when you have God's back, God has your back. God shuts the mouths of the lions. Daniel lives, he's not dead. The next morning, king is so upset over this. He goes and looks, and Daniel's alive. And he realizes that God had shut the mouths of the lions. So king Darius rounds up all the guys who made this law to try to trap Daniel, and they threw them in with the lions. And scripture has this interesting detail. They didn't even make it to the ground before the lions got them. That's some real Mufasa stuff right there. Everybody like, got them. Got them. Right?”

26s

#GodFirst

“And here's the question. What what do I think about the most? Oh, I heard someone say one time, our lives are always moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts. I want God to be the first in my thoughts. Every day before I go to my phone, before I go to my email, before I go to social media or anything else, I go to migrate God. God, want you to have the first of my attention.”

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