As we celebrate Palm Sunday 2017, it is thought provoking to recognize that the triumphal entry was part of a much bigger story and not just an isolated event. It was an integral part of God’s plan - one that He shared with the world through the Prophet Daniel in his amazing “Seventy-Sevens” prophecy in Chapter 9 of the book of Daniel. Be prepared to be amazed!

The friction that exists between culture and faith can be overwhelming and really wear a person out. And as they saying goes, “it’s often darkest right before the sun rises.” In fact, many times the tension becomes even greater as the end of an ordeal approaches. So how do we cope in those seasons of intense discord? We can again learn from the prophet Daniel how to cope in tenuous times in the right way.

It is said that repetition is the greatest teacher. So, when the Holy Spirit decides to repeat Himself, it is because there is something very important He wants us to learn. Daniel 7 shows us another vision about future kingdoms, but unlike King Nebuchadnezzar’s vision in Daniel 2, this time the vision comes directly to the prophet Daniel. As Daniel seeks the Lord, he receives important clarity on something in the vision that is very important to us living today.

It is time for a new leader to be set in place and for Moses to go home to be with the Lord. In Deuteronomy 31 we watch God’s design for leadership transition as Moses passes the baton to the next generation and Joshua emerges as God’s pick to lead the people of God in the next season.

Like Daniel and his friends, we want to live structurally, not emotionally. That means putting much of our lives on holy autopilot, so that in the anxiety of a moment, the emotions and pressures won’t get the best of us. This requires establishing healthy and holy habits. This was the reason why when a law was enacted that Daniel could no longer pray to the Father as he always did, there wasn’t even a dispute in his heart as to what he should do. Daniel just did his usual habit – he prayed to the Father … and with some extraordinary results.

Foolishness is defined very specifically in the Bible as someone who does not believe in God and acts according to that belief. While nobody likes foolishness, if we are not careful, we end up playing the fool. The prophet Daniel was no fool, and even as he grew older, his faith in God never wavered. Yet there was a new king who came on the scene who was very foolish. He didn’t know Daniel’s God but he was about to meet Him!

It is said that home is where the heart is. For the children of Israel, God intended home to be Him. And when they abided in the Lord, He would keep them safe in the Promised Land. The same is true for each one of us today, but, like the children of Israel, it is not automatic. It is a choice we have to make for ourselves daily.