April 9, 2025 // Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95
Reflect on the Word //
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The first I remember hearing of their story was at church camp as a youth. We sang a song about them, sitting around the campfire in the cool summer air, and as the fire transfixed us, we would almost make out their shapes in our imagination. They were a sort of spiritual superheroes calling us to a wild trust.
They survived a fire so hot that it melted the people who threw them into the flames. But their confidence in the Lord and trust in His eternal plan burned brighter.
"There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you in this matter,” they spoke to the king (Daniel 3:16). Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we have no need to defend ourselves when we are doing the will of God, and yet I defend myself constantly. I take offense when no offense is intended, and snap back my retort almost automatically when I feel attacked. These three men were threatened. It wasn’t a threat to their pride or image—it was a threat to their life. With a choice to protect your earthly life or to protect your eternal life, which would you choose? I would love to say that I would respond that there is no need for me to defend myself, but I know that when left to my own devices, I would.
Because that is what I do every day. It is one of my imperfections. And I am fairly certain I am not alone.
We prefer to defend ourselves and our earthly pride rather than growing in humility and accepting the offense or letting go of the insult. Rather than growing in humility and holiness trusting that God has allowed the circumstance for some reason, we retaliate and fight. Oh, what a better path to turn directly to the Lord in these times, with the confidence that He can save us, if we only continue to be obedient to His commands.
Relate to the Lord // Pray for humility today. :)
Dr. Mary Ruth Hackett is a writer, national speaker, and podcast host covering topics in psychology and faith. She holds a PhD in Educational Psychology and works at the important intersection of faith and developmental science, blending them in the original harmony God intended. Dr. Mary Ruth is the author of Daughter by Design: Discovering Your Identity as God's Beloved Daughter, and co-coauthor of Spiritual Discernment for Beginners: Learning to Hear God and Defeat the Lies of the Enemy. She is a contributing author to All She Had and our children’s devotional prayer book called Rise Up. Find out more about her here.
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