As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

–Parallel verses:
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭18‬
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Step into the minds of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego with me for a moment, but let’s back up a bit and go a few weeks back from their first furnace experience. They see this image of gold being built. It is 90 feet high and nine feet wide and it looks like King Nebuchadnezzar. They hear about the plan for this image, once it is built — everyone is to bow down and worship the king and his image as a god. So they go to God in prayer.

As the image nears completion, a furnace is also built. It is way more robust than any previous furnace. They are told that anyone who doesn’t bow down will be thrown into the furnace. Maybe the king’s guard tests the furnace and they can feel the heat coming off of it from a distance.

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego go to God in prayer again. And their prayers might have been similar to this prayer by the sons of Korah in Psalm 42. If they prayed a prayer like Psalm 42, it may have gone like this: “Oh, how I long to be in your presence, O God. These people blaspheme you all day long. Lord, how can you stand to have this idol erected of a mere man? How arrogant is he? Father, his advisors are setting up everything against us, so we rely on you! They make fun of us for worshiping you and following your rules. What will become of my friends, family, and people? You put us in this leadership position, and now this injustice is tolerated? How can it be? Whatever happens, I will tell my soul and resolve to say, ‘Thy will be done!’”

When faced with challenging decisions and times that are difficult, what shall we do? Do we retreat, pull back, and play it safe, or do we stand strong for the Lord?

I believe the answer to this is found in the weeks and days before this decision, by wrestling with God in prayer and reminding our souls who the God we serve really is! He is worthy of all our devotion and sacrifices. He is faithful to save either in this world or the next. He is a very BIG GOD!

How am I preparing my mind and soul today for the future opportunities to lay down my rights and even my life for the sake of Christ? Am I wrestling today with what I see on the horizon in the weeks and months ahead? Am I taking my worries and stresses to God?

Lord, work in me the discipline of honestly taking the tough situations to you each day and gaining a mindset for eternity. Then I will be ready to give your Spirit full access to my soul and be empowered to STAND FIRM with the strength of resolve I built in prayer with you.