Heart of Thanksgiving // Night Vision

Matthew 6:19-23a NIV 

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. 

Daniel 1:3-4; 6 NASB 

3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles, 4 youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king’s court; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 6 Now among them from the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 

1) REMEMBER IT MIGHT NOT BE THAT YOU’RE DOING WRONG; IT MIGHT BE THAT YOU’RE DOING RIGHT. 

Psalm 23:4a NIV 

4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley... 

Daniel 6:3-5 NIV 

3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” 

2) REMEMBER THE “WHY?” SHOULD INCLUDE THE “WHY NOT?”. 

Daniel 6:10 NIV 

10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room were the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 

3) REMEMBER THE POWER OF THE WAITING & THE WITH 

Daniel 6:16-17 NIV 

16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 

Daniel 6:19-22 NIV 

19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. 

Psalm 23:4a NIV 

4a Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; 

Psalm 27:13-14 NASB 

13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord. 

Questions 

1. Have you ever been in a season where you thought you were doing everything right but you kept getting “bad” results? How did you respond and why? 

2. Have you or someone you know ever experienced tragedy in your life? How were you able to walk through it? 

3. How does the phrase “wait on God” resonate with you? Describe an experience in your life that required patience and trust in the Lord and what you learned from it.