I’m not going to sing Elvis’ song ‘I’m All Shook Up’. You’d get exactly that if I did. Shook up, that is. What happens to me when I get into a tizzy? As wheels fall off my wagon? Can’t see the forest or the trees? What then? I get all shook up.

But not Daniel. This Old Testament character shines with great strength and devotion. He’s been faithfully serving one pagan king after another while being forcibly evicted and exiled from home, family, and country decades ago, Still, he labors on with eye and heart firmly focused on Jerusalem and his Lord God. Never wavering. Always dyed in the wool. True blue.

I want to be a Daniel. You too? I doubt he ever sang Elvis’ lyrics that go like this–‘…my hands are shaking and my knees are weak…’ May not have sung them, but he sure felt them. All through chapter 9, Daniel owns up to his people’s sins. How they’ve reneged on their promises to God. Cast the Ten Commandments to the ground, stomping all over them. Brazenly rejecting God at the drop of a hat and the first sign of trouble.

How to be like Daniel? Beyond a shadow of a doubt, rely on God’s love for you if you trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior. An angel comes to Daniel’s side when he’s all shook up–“…a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. And he said to me, ‘O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.’ And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling…” (Dan. 10:11). Even while all shook up, Daniel hears words that he hungers for–‘…man greatly loved…’ Jesus says those words to you and me as well.

Something else? To be like Daniel? At the beginning of chapter 9, we find him combing through his Bible. He’s searching the book of Jeremiah for insight and understanding of his world that’s being all shook up. Good idea. We should, too. That is to dig deeper into our Bibles. Be a Daniel. Like a treasure hunter on the search for untold riches, cherish your Bible. Valuable gems and jewels can be found from cover to cover. Find out for yourself.

Like Daniel, draw close to Jesus telling Him all that’s on your heart and mind. Daniel 9: 3-4–‘Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession…’ Open up to God, letting it all out with Him. Like He doesn’t already know? Tell Him. That’s what He wants.

There it is. Some guidance from Daniel, our role-model of long ago; when, you and I, here and now, get all shook up. Look gratefully at the wedding ring of committed love that Jesus gives you. Make your Bible your best friend forever. Be more about prayer than panic.

Then we won’t get all shook up! Not as much as usual. Not if we’re like Daniel.

For your strength, O Lord, we pray this day. In Jesus’ name.. Amen.

Our garden soil is becoming more fertile and lush as we add compost to it. Compost develops its ambrosial richness using common toss-outs like kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, and grass clippings. Yum stuff, right? Not to us but to our garden beds. Tons of wriggling worms within the compost do their duty, so to speak, adding even more oomph to our patch.

Jesus talks about being good soil. Mark 4 recounts this well-known story. You’re aware that the seed is God’s Word, which can be found in your Bible. When taken to heart and acted upon, it helps you to root, grow, and be productive for Jesus. Nothing better anywhere.

But here’s the rub. Good soil consistency often lacks just that, consistency! When it comes to Bible reading, study, and meditation, we can be rather hit-and-miss, lukewarm, and lackadaisical. Fairweather followers. When we have extra time if there is any. And if we feel like it. Then and only then. Inconsistent.

What about Jesus’ story? Here goes. Some seed gets tossed on hard ground, which becomes food for hungry birds. A faith that’s here today, gone tomorrow. No roots, no depth, nothing.

Other seed is scattered where too little topsoil exists and hardly takes root. Shallow believers who bolt the family of God at the first sign of trouble. Now you have faith, then you don’t. Fence-straddlers who also fall off Humpty-Dumpty’s wall.

Then there’s soil filled with weeds, brambles, and thornbushes which choke out the good plants. Who is Jesus referring to here? Those who focus on their problems more than God’s provision and promises. Who run to anxiety more than to the Lord.

Finally, the good soil, which is clear of weeds and protected from predatory birds, contains deep, vigorous, and nutrient-rich soil. Those who thrive in their relationship with Jesus. Who live for God and others along with themselves. Who let the seed of God’s Word work its wonders in their lives. Good soil. Productive followers.

Which soil are you in? How receptive are you to God’s Word? How much daily time does your Bible garner? Many probably fall into the overflowing with distractions category. Shallow soil. Dominated by ever-present cell phones. Too much time in front of glowing screens with fingers flying all over a keyboard. Shouldn’t surprise us that God’s Word remains razor-thin in our hearts and minds. And we know if that’s happening, don’t we? Jesus’ impact evaporates lickety-split.

I’m often in the smothered and clogged-up group. Worry-warts anonymous. My thoughts embrace fear and panic way too often. Old troubles refuse to leave the theater’s front-row seats even after they’ve been tossed out years ago. Keep them out, I say to myself, only to recall and massage some long-gone rotten word said to me by some know-it-all meany. Inconsistent me. Fouled soil. Unproductive.

Still, I want to be God’s good soil. His good earth. Where His ways find nourishment and growth in my life and heart. Not just here and there, when there’s nothing better to do, but much more often than that. Always? Not in this life, with the spirit willing but the flesh weak as can be.

What of those worm casings? Their droppings in the compost? I think that’s how we can use failure. Mixing and folding in what we’ve learned from our sins so that we become more compassionate and helpful. Let alone forgiven by God. This compost, combined with our flops and foul-ups, produces super-rich soil for Jesus. As St. Paul says, ‘all things work together for good for those who love God…’ (Rom. 8: 28). ‘All things…’ Let the Lord work those shameful things in our lives to make richer soil than we ever could produce all on our own.

How about it? Want to be God’s good soil? That’s my prayer. You too?

Lord Jesus, I need you in all my life. Amen.

Hold delicately to the certainty you feel about the specifics of God’s will. Many of His desires we know. All that’s necessary, to live as Jesus wants us to, is given. We need nothing more to shine for Him and to know His presence than what’s told to us in the Bible.

Forget hidden puzzles, mysteries, and codes, which demand more from God than He’s willing to share–‘The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law’ (Deut. 29: 29).

It’s God’s prerogative to hold His cards close to His chest if He so chooses. To maintain His veil of secrecy where and when He wants. But think what He’s already divulged. The Bible from cover to cover unveils God’s will. An open book for all who choose to dive right in and enjoy the water of life. Refreshment starts in Genesis with waves cascading to its fulfillment in the book of Revelation. Come on in. The water’s fine. Even for those of us who can’t swim.

I’m skeptical of preachers who give, usually at a price, dates and times of future events. They’ve been wrong so often that it’s not funny. To me, they seem more like fortune tellers with horoscopes and Ouiji boards, all couched in spiritual lingo, and less like Bible teachers. Every detail of Christ’s second coming is laid out on a massive chart to wonder at. I wonder, alright! But not in the way they want me to. So, I grab tightly onto my Bible while holding them at arm’s length.

1 Samuel 24 deals with knowing God’s will. For sure. With certainty. Beyond a shadow of a doubt. Except that it wasn’t what the Lord wanted. Not in the least. In 1 Samuel 24, David has a chance to rid himself of his archenemy, King Saul– ”And the men of David said to him, ‘Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you'” (vs. 4). David’s men smell enemy blood as God’s gift to them. His will for sure. But is it?

Not quite. David responds–‘The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed’ (1 Sam. 24: 6). David sets them straight about God’s will in this case. He follows what he already knows from the Lord.

So, be careful thinking that you know exactly what the Lord wants when you haven’t found it in the Bible. Be humble. Not presumptuous or a know-it-all, showing off how much you think you know.

That’s why we make God’s Word our constant companion. He’ll point the way. Travels right beside you no matter what. Just be aware of the boundaries and where to settle for not knowing. It’s okay to be tentative at times. To not have a clue or an opinion. Where we just don’t know.

So trust your God. Place whatever in His strong hands. Hold your head high and smell the roses. Have faith in Jesus. Count on Him. Bank on His reliability. Especially with the unknown. Let’s give it a good try. Shall we?

Lord Jesus, you are my constant companion and I love you. Amen.

Before I sold my financial planning business, I had over 850 clients. Quite a number to take care of. But I loved doing just that. Helping them achieve their financial goals while overcoming frustrations and concerns. Felt like a pastor, giving oversight to people who had put their trust in me. A responsibility I willingly accepted.

As with a lawyer who represents clients. Doing for others what they can’t do for themselves. When a neighbor sues us over a property issue, it’s to an attorney we reach out to for help. Felt reassuring knowing that there was someone watching out for our best interests. Speaking up for us. Our advocate.

Which is who the Holy Spirit is to believers. We’re His clients. He watches over us and speaks on our behalf. Romans 8: 26-27–‘Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.’

When we don’t know what to say or what to do, the Holy Spirit is there with God the Father, speaking on our behalf. Our advocate and champion. He knows God’s will. He knows what we need better than we do. He knows how to utter the right words. We’re all tongue-tied but not the Holy Spirit. He’s right on the money all the time so we don’t have to worry about what to say. Forget it. The Holy Spirit’s got it. Leave it to Him (I’m speaking to myself). He knows.

It should put our minds at rest knowing that God has it well taken care of. Handled with love. So, relax already. Trust the almighty trustworthy One. Let Him work the late hours and burn the midnight oil in our defense. All ‘pro bono’. I’m sure He’s heard it all before and defended tougher cases than anything we can give Him. Let go and let God, as they say.

As the Holy Spirit’s client, I can begin to enjoy life. Freed up. Off the hook. Burdens are lifted at Calvary, as the old hymn rightly says. Just what Jesus promises–‘…I came that they may have life and have it abundantly’ (John 10:10).

For life in its fullness, Lord Jesus, we thank you. Amen.