READ Daniel 5
Handwriting appears on the wall, prophesying the king´s death.

INSIGHT
It is a terrible thing to go into the presence of God in our own merit. All have sinned and fall short of His glory. Belshazzar discovers this truth. While he revels—desecrating the holy implements from the temple—the hand of God writes on the wall: “You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting” (v. 27). In the providence and grace of God, we can come before Him in the merit of Christ Jesus—holy and undefiled.

PRAYER
Jesus Christ took our place on the cross. His great sacrifice requires our praise:
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One (Ephesians 1:3-6).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Give us today our daily bread.  
And forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.  
And do not bring us into temptation,  
But deliver us from the evil one
(Matthew 6:11-13).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Love the Lord, all his faithful ones.  
The Lord protects the loyal,
But fully repays the arrogant.  
Be strong, and let your heart be courageous,  
All you who put your hope in the Lord
(Psalm 31:23-24).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

• Greater gratitude for Christ´s sacrifice
• Your neighbors´ spiritual well being
• Whatever else is on your heart

Offer this closing prayer to God:
How great is your goodness,
Which you have stored up for those who fear you.
In the presence of everyone you have acted
For those who take refuge in you (Psalm 31:19).