Warriors Arise: March 9, 2021
Daniel 6:3-5 (NKJV) Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. 4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.
Daniel had a reason to distinguish himself. Who knows what Darius had heard about him. If Daniel's honor and loyalty were in question, he wanted to put any concerns Darius might have to rest. Daniel had been in this position before: a captive and new regime. Daniel had his heart set on returning to Jerusalem as Jeremiah had said when the 70 years of captivity were up. He was not going to compromise what his heart desired and God had promised. He would serve whomever God put into power. He would serve without compromise. He would be faithful to do as God positioned him with Darius, as long as it didn't compromise his loyalty to God.
Most of us do not like it when we have to work under a new boss, coach, pastor etc. We like things to remain as they are. However, life happens and we find ourselves confronted with the new. At least the new for now. Daniel chose to allow God to continue to use him to serve yet another ruler. He chose to rise above the situation and offer his services. He distinguished himself allowing God to direct his path. He made a choice to honor God in everything; therefore, he operated with an excellent spirit. Not everybody will be happy with your choice to operate in an excellent spirit. The authorities over you will like it because they can trust you will accomplish what they have put you in charge of. However, others who want the position and recognition you received will not be.
The problem arrises not when they want your position and the recognition you got. Or when they allow themselves to be overcome with jealousy, coveting what you accomplished or earned.
Daniel 6:4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.
It wasn't about the other governors and satraps trying to be better more learned or seeking to be more accomplished. They weren't going to do that. They were going to find fault in Daniel. There just had to be something. But there was nothing. Daniel was excellent. He was faithful to those he served and to God. His unwavering faithfulness to God is what make him excellent.
When we know we can't compete or do not have the level of skill of another we can be lured by selfish desires. If we can't be terrible to the other person then we will try to make them look bad, slander or judge them without cause. It is human tendency unless our focus is to please God and be faithful to Him. Human tendencies can lead us astray. We all like to be promoted and acknowledge for the things we have done. I'm not talking about a prideful acknowledgement but when we have put forth a good effort, we appreciate our efforts being noticed.
Why would Daniel try to do his very best? To seek God in his decisions? To seek God for wisdom? Would you rather serve one nonbeliever or two? If you have to serve a nonbeliever I would prefer to serve under one and no more. If Daniel had not been faithful to God, loyal to Dairus, he could have found himself under the very men who were now trying to find fault in him. You may not like a situation or the authority that has been put over you but when you offer less than what God has given you things generally get worse. Now you have to serve more than just the authority over you but the others he has placed in power above you. I'm guessing Daniel knew the other governors and satraps, at least "their type". I am sure he was not surprised that they would try to find fault in him and would not stop until they did.
People who give into their jealousy become obsessed to get what they want no matter whose reputation they destroy or person they attack. What did they want of Daniel? To remove him from his position to Darius. They did want to answer to Daniel. If they answered to Daniel how would they win favor from Darius? They might not even be called to go before Darius. Daniel might get a word from God and they would never get their chance. They just had to do something because they didn't want to serve under a Hebrew, a child of God. Especially not one like Daniel.
When someone has a success in an area you struggle, have you fallen into the trap of trying to look for an area to find fault? Maybe you have told yourself it doesn't matter, but your mind starts to look in other areas of their life to see if you can find a fault. This is dangerous. Rather than celebrating the area they are experiencing success, we turn against them. God wants us to celebrate others and their accomplishments. God is excited when His people succeed, especially if it is an area they have been trapped in. God says we are to be the overcomer, we are to be the victors not the victims, we are to be the head and not the tail, and those who are imprisoned will see Jesus unlock the door. When someone has overcome an area that has been bondage we are to celebrate them. When someone has walked away from being a victim and lives victoriously God wants to celebrate them and make sure they are restored to their calling. When someone sees Jesus unlock the prison door, God wants us to encourage them to walk out of that prison and into the fullness of the freedom He has given them.
When someone has a victory we are not to look for their faults.
Matthew 7:3-5 (NKJV) And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
These governors and satraps were trying to discredit Daniel, find some fault in him. But they disregarded that by doing so they were exposing their own fault. They would not be loyal to Darius. They were loyal to themselves. They didn't have the betterment of the kingdom in mind when they were looking for fault in Daniel. They didn't have the Darius' best interest in mind when trying to find fault in Daniel. They were jealous and when the continued to entertain their jealousy it consumed them.
Father, I pray for You to come and search my heart. I thank You for the opportunity to serve You in the positions You have established in my life. I ask that I be faithful to You, seeing with a pure heart, and honoring the authorities You have placed over me. I pray You will strengthen my heart to be faithful to You. I will celebrate the accomplishments of others. I will build each one up in the area You have called them I will encourage others in their pursuit of You. I ask for courage to believe in all You have called me to do. I ask for Your goodness to pour over me. I pray my eyes would see and speak forth the good in others. I ask to have the words to bless others in what they have achieved. I ask to have a pure heart to lift others up in the position You have placed them. I desire to be faithful to You and those You have placed over me. If I see a fault in their life, I pray I would be faithful to pray for that area to be made strong by Your lead. I submit to Your leadership and trust You. I ask for be loyal to You in all situations. I want to be one of an excellent spirit in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
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