Be prepared. This is a good rule to live by even if you’re not a Boy Scout! You see, when you’re prepared for a situation, you won’t be so rocked by it. You’ll know what to do because you’ve already thought through it. Today, Pastor Daniel talks about how this principle can be applied to your spiritual life. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you’ll be able to stand firm on your convictions in the heat of the moment, when there’s so much on the line.

There are these 3 guys who follow God. They’re smart. They’ve got important jobs. Overall, they’re doing really well for themselves. But, one day, an issue comes up that stops them in their tracks. What should they do? If they take a stand, they’ll be canceled. But if they follow their culture, they’ll be turning against the God they serve. Today, Pastor Daniel invites you to study how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were able to stand firm and follow God.

And this is what a lot of people don’t realize, even people in the church; they were made to be in relationship with God. And anything they’re doing outside that to feel fulfilled will ultimately fail because that’s not what they were built for. Pastor Daniel and Pastor Banning will talk about this heart longing everyone has, and how to fulfill it.

God isn’t some far-off uncaring watcher who looks down on us from on high. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. He’s deeply invested in this world because He loves us all so much. Today, Pastor Daniel explains that history is truly HIS Story. It’s the story of God in the midst of humanity, in the lives of people. And the book of Daniel shows you that prophecy is really history in advance. It’s God telling His story before it happens.

Do you give credit where credit is due? Well, today on Jesus is Real Radio, Pastor Daniel points out how Daniel gives God all of the credit when he talks to King Nebuchadnezzar about his dream. Daniel could’ve taken some of the glory for himself. But he didn’t. He used the opportunity to share with everyone how powerful and all-knowing God is. No other god could do what the God of the Bible did. Daniel didn’t hold back. He was honest and gave God the glory.

Think about who you turn to when things get hard. Do they give good advice and encourage you to pause and go to the Lord? Or do they rile you up even more? Today, Pastor Daniel urges you to consider if people you go to in a crisis help you move forward with wisdom. These are the kind of friends that Daniel had. When their world was imploding, they stayed calm and prayed together. They asked God to move in their lives and show them the way.

When you’re already stressed and there’s a lot going on, even the little things feel huge. Things you’d usually take in stride now provoke volcanic reactions. In short, you lose your head. Well, Nebuchadnezzar does this very thing. He’s freaked out by a dream he has. And allowing his emotions to take control, he makes some really crazy decisions. Today, Pastor Daniel shares that it doesn’t have to be this way for you. You can keep perspective in a crisis.

Ben Higgens is speaking about the pain of loneliness and depression on our podcast today. Have you ever felt the crushing pain of being alone? Take heart, we have a Savior who never leaves us! But, like Ben says, sometimes it's time to pursue counseling as well. Use all the tools you have available.

So, how do you make it through life in a culture that wants to take Jesus out of everything? Well, today, Pastor Daniel shares that the answer is found in Daniel’s example. You see, Daniel was in exile in a country that wanted nothing to do with God or His ways. But, instead of being swept away or living entirely separate from the culture he was in, Daniel purposed for purity. He made specific decisions about how he would live to follow God.

The siren call of our culture pulls us to live in a way that’s very different from what Jesus wants for us. So, how should you respond? Do you give in and live the same way? Or do you completely separate yourself and live in a little Christian bubble? Well, today, Pastor Daniel shares that neither of these options is what God wants for you. You’ll learn that because Jesus is real, you can move through culture in a way that allows Him to shine and you to thrive.