I’m trying to help my daughter understand money. When her grandmother gives her a few dollars we go to the Dollar Store and I let her shop for herself. All this started because one time while out shopping she asked for a particular item and I told her she could not have it because I did not have enough money. She kindly reminded me that I did have money: “just give the lady that card in your purse” she said. How I wish it were really that easy. What my toddler doesn’t realize is that the value is not in the plastic card, it’s in how much money I actually have in my bank account.

But this had me thinking. I believe we treat God the same way sometimes. We look at His blessings and start to think the value is in the blessing and not God Himself. We look to the deliverance and not the Deliverer. We look to the healing and not the Healer. We look to the provision and not the Provider, to the blessing and not God. This type of thinking is detrimental to our faith because it means our faith is rooted in uncertain circumstances and not our unchanging, all powerful and always worthy God.

In this week’s study, we learn to look to God for who He is and not only what He can do for us. This is the type of faith that grants our friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego the boldness to say:

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.” – Daniel 3:17-18 (emphasis mine)
Did you hear that? “But even if He does not” they said. Even if God does not give them what they want, they will not stop serving Him because their devotion to God is not based on the outcome of their prayers but the worthiness of their God. And Beloved, our God is worthy.

If you are reading these devotions and have never clicked to listen to the associated video this is your week to do so. If there is only one video you watch from the “Unshaken” Bible Study series THIS IS THE ONE you want to watch. It contains the most important takeaway from this study. One you certainly do not want to miss.