Memory Verse: 7: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained
faithful. 8: And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all
who eagerly look forward to his appearing. – 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NLT).
Spiritual Emphasis: What race are you running? Have you ever watched the summer or winter
Olympics? Almost every event has a course laid out for them. Each course or field has
boundaries, lanes, obstacles and rules. Athletes are expected to stay on course and follow the
rules else they will be disqualified. God lays out His plans for us – Jer. 29:11. His will for us –
through the Word, He sets boundaries, guidelines and rules – Rom. 12:2. He also shares His
wisdom and gave us power to fulfill them. He gave us the Holy Spirit to discern His active will
for our lives – John 14:15-18.
Text: Daniel 6: 1-28
To finish strong, we need to Trust God
Trust God for an excellent spirit: Not all of us can distinguish ourselves as Daniel did.
How was Daniel able to do it in his days? By trusting God. We can emulate the example
of Daniel by trusting God all the time – Daniel 6:10; Jer. 17:7-8; Ps. 9:10; Ps. 37:3-5.
Integrity in all you do is another key to finishing strong: Trust God to help you to be
trustworthy in your work, and to be honest and careful, neither corrupt nor negligent in
all you do – Daniel 6:4; Prov. 21:3; Prov. 11:3; 2 Cor. 8:21.
Question: Are you trusting God enough, or are there some areas of your life you are still holding
back on?
Conclusion
We all must strive individually and collectively to continue to mature in Christ. The Christian
life is not a solo sport or a passive one. It is an active one. Here are some steps that will help you
stay on course and run an amazing race: Make church attendance a priority; Be an active
member of a small group in your church; Find a place to serve; Take the gospel to your
Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the outer parts of the World; and do everything in prayer and
with thanksgiving to the Lord.
Shalom!
Self-Study: Ps. 107:1; Ps. 7:17; 2 Cor. 4:15; 1 Chron. 16:34; Eph. 5:19-20; Ps. 95: 2-3; Ps.
107:8-9; Col. 3:17; Ps. 100:4; Phil. 4:6-7; Ps. 9:1; Ps. 7:17; Ps. 28:7; Col. 3:15-17; 1 Chron.
29:13; Col. 4:2; Heb. 13:15; Jer. 30:19; Lam. 3:22-23; 1 Cor. 1:4-5.
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