“I set my face unto the LORD God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession.”—Daniel 9:3–4 KJV

What made Clifford Curzon a great pianist? One key was his commitment to probe for deeper meaning in every piece he played. Curzon spent hours in practice, examining phrases that others passed over with little thought. He experienced joy at discovering new truths and finding hidden treasures. His dedication resulted in playing marked by rare distinction and continually fresh insight. This is the kind of attitude God rewards in spiritual matters. He knows how easily we can be content with a shallow understanding or good enough faith. We have a choice: We can have a superficial understanding of the Bible and live a lukewarm Christian life, or we can go deeper. Think about these issues in your life. When you read the Bible, do you call out to God for answers? Are you just going through the motions and staying on the surface? Do you crave His insights and want to tap into His power? Are you content with a shallow understanding or do you really want to grow in your faith, dig deeper, see His principles come alive in your life, and experience miracle-working power? Think of Daniel’s example. The Bible tells us that he intensely sought the Lord. As a result, God gave him profound revelations. God rewards people with this kind of commitment, persistence, and child-like faith. Dedicate yourself to this kind of diligent faith and persistence.

Reflection Question: How do you intentionally seek to know God better?

“You shall consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim a release throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family.”—Leviticus 25:10 NASB

In 1751, the Pennsylvania Assembly ordered a bell for its State House to be made by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London. This bell has the inscription from Leviticus 25, “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all the inhabitants thereof.” This became known as the Liberty Bell and played a special role throughout the American struggle for independence. Every time it rang, the people had an opportunity to remember the Bible verse that proclaimed liberty throughout their land. The verse chosen for the bell celebrates independence and freedom. The word jubilee comes from a Hebrew word that means trumpet, which blew to signal the beginning of the year of jubilee. It spoke of the promise that one day every fifty years, debts would be forgiven, and slaves would be set free. It was a time of celebration. This is a time each year when Americans celebrate freedom. For people everywhere, this is a time to remember the freedom God has given us. Jesus was born, died, and rose again so that each of us might be free. Because of His sacrifice, we can be freed from sin and the curse of death. We can be free from guilt, fear, and worry. Today, remember you can bring any problems to God. He can forgive sins and heal. All His promises are true! You don’t have to live in fear. You can be free in Christ! Make this a day of celebration! In Christ, you are free!

Reflection Question: What are you proclaiming freedom from today?