Session 8

We are the champions

From Daniel: A 14-Day Devotional

Jesus’ coming is foreshadowed throughout the Bible. In Daniel 7, Daniel’s dream gives him a glimpse at what’s to come: “...the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever” (Daniel 7:18). 

When we ask Jesus into our lives, we become those holy people and the assurance of eternity is ours. The message of Daniel 7 is the same message we see throughout the Bible: Satan is vanquished, evil is defeated, and victory is ours in Christ. 

Daniel’s dream also reminds us we will face hardship and temptation before Jesus returns (Daniel 7:21-22). 

We don’t have to look far to find hardship and temptation. But rather than lose hope when strife comes, we can persevere knowing, “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17). 

In chess, cards, and even Scrabble, there’s a moment when you see the remaining moves and realize that no matter what happens you’ll win. You play on, but with a different posture than before. No longer worried about whether you’ll win or lose, you breathe a little deeper and sit a little further back in your chair. 

The same transformation happens when we realize we are on the winning team spiritually. When hard times come, we play on and take heart knowing that one day “all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High” (Daniel 7:27). 

Living in freedom doesn’t mean we live free of problems. It means we live every day with the freedom of knowing we are on the winning team.

 Reflect:

• Are there any areas of your life where hardship and temptation have a stronghold? 
• How does knowing you are on the winning team change the way you approach those temptations or strongholds?
• What would victory in that area look like for you? Take some time to share your struggle with God and ask for His help making the changes you know you need to make.