Warriors Arise: April 16, 2021
Daniel 6:21-22 (NKJV) 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”
The very man who gave the order to cast Daniel into the lion's den is the same man Daniel blessed when the stone is removed. I think Daniel was speaking to the King of Kings when he says, "O king, live forever!" Because Daniel's knows his King, his God, reigns over all creation and every kingdom He established rule. I might thing Daniel was shouting in praise to God when she begins by saying, "O king, live forever!" When the stone is removed, and Darius, the king speaks, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” is Daniel blessing Darius to live forever? Daniel knows Darius will not live forever. He knows there is only one King who will live forever.
As much as I would like to think Daniel is speaking out to God and blessing Him, I don't believe he is, at this point. Daniel with all his faithfulness and honor toward God, king would not have been lowercase. King would have been capitalized, Daniel is a man of faithfulness to God, there is not way in my mind he would have written king with a lowercase k when referring to King Jesus.
There is also no doubt in my mind, Daniel did not forget to praise God for his protection, deliverance, freedom, restoration, and promotion. I have seen pictures of peoples' interpretation of Daniel in the lions' den. He is pretty calm and serene. However, once he hits bottom of the lions' den and is still alive I am betting he realized the hand of God protecting him. Right then, you would know, God is at work. You would know you are right in the middle of a miracle. You may have been cast a lot of places but this time you are cast into the middle of the miraculous.
The miraculous is happening to you:
because of God
because of your purpose
because the king prayed all day while trying to find a way to get you out of this
because the king blessed you before casting you into the lion's den
because God positioned people around you
because of His love for you
because of His power
Have you noticed yourself in the middle of a miracle? If so, did you praise God when it was all done or when you recognized the miraculous unfolding in front of you?
Are we so dull that we do not acknowledge the hand of God at work in our lives, the miracles He has done to protect us, provided for us, resources coming our way, healing activated, wholeness to our body, soul and spirit, doors that have opened to fulfill our purpose, doors closing to keep us from growing dim, gas extended to get us to the next exit, someone to stop and help us when we are on the side of the road, etc. The miraculous is happening every day. Do you see it? Do you see Him?
To whom is Daniel speaking when he says, "O king, live forever!" I believe it is Darius, the final piece of God's miraculous plan. There are times when we need people to agree with what God is doing in them, through them, and for His people. The plan would not be complete if Darius had not had the stone removed. So, who was the miracle directed toward? Who was supposed to see the miraculous of God? Daniel had experienced the miraculous of God a number of times but this would be Darius' first time. Where Belshazzar failed, God reached out to see if Darius would recognize Daniel's God as the only God.
When Daniel speaks, "O king, live forever!", I wonder if Daniel was praying as diligently for Darius that night as Darius was positioning himself to intercede for Daniel? Daniel didn't want Belshazzar to continue rejecting God and tried to speak some sense into him before it was too late. But Belshazzar would not be moved from honoring God. Now, Daniel is in the lion's den but do you think he was praying for himself? Or Darius?
Daniel knew God was protecting him from being eaten by the lions, he was praying for Darius to honor God. When Daniel heard Darius' voice call to him, he responded with a blessing! God has heard Daniel's prayers and Darius knows God is worthy to be honored.
We have been in a number of situations where I have come to realize we are not going through this because we have something to learn. We just need to do what we know to do. We need to honor God and people. We need to lift up the name of Jesus no matter who is threatening us. We need to pray to God no matter who prays with us. We need to stand firm on His Word so others can see the mighty hand of God rescue His people. We need to stop praying for the miracle that is happening in the lion's den and pray for the miracle that needs to happen outside of the lion's den.
Father, You are amazing! In the midst of the lions' den, knowing we are protected and will be called out soon, You position us to pray for those who are struggling to recognize Your faithfulness, for who waffle in knowing the fulness of Your love, and question the strength of Your power. I delight in knowing You will always be with me in the lions' den. I praise You for Your faithfulness is true and sure every time. I lift Your name on high to give You glory and honor and praise. You are worthy! While it seems like I should be the one praying for me, for my situation, You actually have already strengthened me, provided for me and given me provision. You want me to pray for those who need to see the miraculous. I need to pray they will seek You. I need to pray they respond. I need to pray they will be in position to see the miraculous unfold before them. I ask for You to keep my mind focused. When I am in the lions' den I want to recognize I am not the one who needs prayer. You have already protected me. I want to see that I am to pray for those who are to respond to You, who need to see Your hand at work, who need to know Your love is real, tangible, and evident in my life and can be in their's 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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