Book Review: The Daniel Key

I’ll have to admit that I am new to Anne Graham Lotz’s teaching and writing.  My first real exposure to Anne was in her memorial eulogy for her father Billy Graham.  Wow…what a gift she has!  I have read several articles she has written and am very grateful for her heart to dive deep into God’s word and teach and challenge women to love Jesus more. When I had the opportunity to read The Daniel Key: 20 Choices that Make All the Difference, I was eager to hear her thoughts on the life of Daniel and how she applied his choices to her own life.  This book reads like a great conversation with a dear friend reminiscing over how the Lord has worked in her life.  This book is a great read whether you take it one chapter at a time or sit down and read several chapters at a time. An added bonus is that Daniel is one of my favorite Old Testament people because of his courage to do what was right in the midst of unthinkable circumstances.  Every time I read Daniel 6:25-26, I get overcome with the thought of the major victory that Daniel won for the sake of the kingdom through a series of intentional choices to honor the Lord.

“The repetition of right choices builds our character and strengthens our faith.” p. viii

1. Faith
   1. Hebrews 11:6
   2. While you may not have the luxury of a lifetime ahead of you to make the critical choices that will develop your faith, it’s important that you start now.  One choice at time.  God knows how long you will have to develop your faith, and He will make sure that it’s sufficient.  But you must start now.  p. 7
2. Worship
   1. John 4:23
   2. Before Daniel even gave us the words of his prayer, he made it clear that he first “turned to the Lord God” (9:3). He set his compass. p. 14
3. Loyalty
   1. 1 Chronicles 29:18
   2. God honored Daniel’s loyalty and prompted the guard to agree.  Ten days later when they were evaluated, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego “looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food” (1:15).  The four remained on that diet, and three years later, when the king himself gave them their final exams “in every matter of wisdom and understanding…he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in his kingdom” (1:20 ESV).  Loyalty to God made all the difference. p. 23
4. Prayer Partners
   1. Matthew 18:20
   2. Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.  He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.” (Daniel 2:20-23 ESV)
   3. God was glorified as the king acknowledged that Daniel’s God is the God of gods and the King of kings.  And Daniel was honored by being made rule over all of Babylon. p. 31
5. Praying for Others
   1. 1 Timothy 2:1,3
   2. Effective intercession is offered with wet eyes, a broken heart, and bent knees. p. 37
   3. We may never have another Great Awakening in our nation until you and I stop pointing our fingers at “them” and deal with the sin in our own hearts and lives.  p. 40
6. Praying God’s Word
   1. Daniel 9:2-3
   2. Praying God’s Word back to Him is like reversing thunder. p. 46
7. Attitude
   1. Philippians 2:5
   2. The key to thankfulness is not to view God through the lens of our circumstances, but to view our circumstances through the lens of God’s love and sovereign purpose. p. 53
8. Listening
   1. 1 Samuel 3:9
9. Daily Prayer Time
   1. Daniel 6:10
   2. “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” (Psalm 5:3)
   3. “I cry to you for help, O Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you.” (Psalm 88:13)
10. Perseverance
    1. Hebrews 10:35-36
    2. When we pray, we are entering into the realm of spiritual warfare with the enemy. p. 75
11. Desperate Prayers
    1. 2 Samuel 22:7
    2. Prayerlessness is pride that says you don’t need God. p. 83
    3. God loves to be needed.  He promises to “meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).  But you must choose to acknowledge your need and ask. p. 87
12. Values
    1. Philippians 4:8
    2. Values that are worth living by are worth dying for. p. 93
13. Focus
    1. Hebrews 12:2
    2. You can’t be divided in your focus or you will become cross-eyed and your perspective on life will become blurry. p. 100
14. Courage
    1. 2 Timothy 1:7-8
    2. Courage is the fruit of deeply held conviction. p. 109
15. Confession
    1. 1 John 1:9
    2. “Break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.” Hosea 10:12 p. 118
16. Fasting
    1. Matthew 6:16
17. Forgiveness
    1. Colossians 3:13
    2. Refusing to forgive is like drinking poison and hoping the other person will die. p. 135
    3. What difference will forgiveness make?  You won’t know until you choose to forgive. p. 138
18. Humility
    1. James 4:10
19. A Personal Relationship with God
    1. Genesis 17:1-2
20. Commitment
    1. Joshua 24:15

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”