Warriors Arise: March 5, 2021
Daniel 5:31-6:1 (NKJV ) And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. 1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom;
Darius would make the fourth king Daniel has served. Daniel was captured by Nebuchadnezzar when he overthrew Jerusalem. Daniel was one of many who were brought back to Babylon as part of the spoils of war. They were trained to serve in the Babylonian kingdom. Daniel and three of his countrymen made of the best of their terrible situation. They learned a whole new way of life, languages, culture and customs. But for Daniel and three of his countrymen they would not turn away from God.
They embraced the words of the prophet Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 29:10 (NKJV) For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.
70 years and by the Word of the Lord they would return to Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
They believed God thought good things about them. God did not think of evil ways to torture them. God thought of peace. God had future plans for them. When someone has future plans for you, they are thinking you will live and be in that future.
Jeremiah 29:12-14 (NKJV) Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity;
Daniel prayed. God heard his prayers. Daniel's friends, found Jesus in the fire. They searched and found God. When I read of the account about Shadrach, Meshack and Abed-Nego in the fiery furnace remember Jesus was already in the fire before the three went in. I believe this is why they went in. They could have waited for more guards to come and take them the rest of the way but they didn't. In that terrible experience they found Jesus in the fire. They found Him and followed Him.
After Nebuchadnezzar, there was his son, then Belshazzar his grandson. The kingdom rejected Nebuchadnezzar's son. Now that Belshazzar is dead there is not only a new authority but there is a new kingdom, the Medes and Persians.
Daniel was under new authority. He would now serve Darius, the Mede. He would be put to a trial and tested. His loyalty would be in question, since he had served Belshazzar and just named third in the kingdom less than 12 hours earlier. With Darius as the new authority, the playing field had just been leveled once again.
He would have to prove himself to Darius. He would have to show his wisdom, abilities, and capabilities. He would have to do all of this without appearing to be better than Darius. He would have to do this being fully willing to submit under a new ruler. Again, he would submit to the ruling authorities over him while being an ambassador in God's kingdom. He had just proven himself to Belshazzar and the Babylonians. Now, he would have to prove himself to Darius.
This situation totally reminds me of a song called Do It Again by Dustin Smith. Here are a few of verses from that song:
Walking around these walls
I thought by now they'd fall
But You have never failed me yet.
Waiting for change to come
Knowing the battles won
For You have never failed me yet.
Your promise still stands
Great is Your faithfulness faithfulness.
I'm still in Your hands
This is my confidence
You've never failed me yet.
I know the night won't last.
Your Word will come to pass.
My heart will sing Your praise again.
Father I enter into Your presence with worship. Sometimes change can be so difficult. It is extremely challenging to put myself under another authority. It is also stressful to lose what I have worked for. I pray for my fellow Christian Americans who are in the process of looking for another job. I pray they would walk with You and know You are with them. I ask for their resumes and job applications to come to the top of the list. I pray they would be honored for what they have done in their previous positions and employment. I ask for Your people to be given the opportunity to show what they can do and develop in their skills in their new employment. I pray for better benefit packages for each one. I ask for You to make a way for each one to be blessed with favor in their new position. Favor of God come and make a way for those needing a job. Lead them to the place You will have them to prosper. Let Your favor be upon them 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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