God Shuts Mouths!

Thursday greetings~

Last time we laughed at how the king rolled a stone over the lion’s den and sealed the deal with some rings.  We laughed because we all know that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD.

But, did God, to whom Daniel “was so loyal,” rescue him?

Daniel 6:19-22 “At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den.  When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?’ Daniel answered, ‘My God sent His angel, and He shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.’”

Amen! The Bible says that “no wound was found on Daniel because he had trusted in God!” Other versions of the Bible say, “there was not a scratch on him,” and “no manner of hurt was upon him.”

When we trust in God we might face dangerous, calamitous, or difficult situations, but let us pray that we will emerge unwounded - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually - just like Daniel.  This passage shows us that it is possible.

Not only was Daniel rescued but, "At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.”

Yikes and ouch!  This verse serves to further remind us of just how perilous Daniel’s situation was.  Before the false accusers even hit the floor, the lions crushed their bones.  Yet, Daniel was in there overnight and was perfectly fine. 

This story inspired one of my all-time favorite lines in a song entitled Praying Man: “Never throw a hungry lion in the den with a praying man.”

Why is that?  Because if the goal is to feed the lion, it will starve!  

God will “shut the mouth” of whatever is threatening us when we pray.  

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for Your Word.  It is so encouraging to know that by praying and keeping our focus on You, even lion’s mouths will be shut against their will!  It does not matter how loud something roars or how vicious it is, You will render it ineffective.  In fact, we invite You to send Your angel into our lives today to protect us and our families; let anything that comes against us starve to death!  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~  

Hahahahahahaha~

Tuesday blessings ~

Daniel and the lions’ den continued…

Daniel 6:16 “So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lion’s den. The king said to Daniel, ‘Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.’” 

The king – the one who was so unbelievably self-centered enough to decree that he alone must be worshipped – knew that the only One Who could save Daniel was God.  Amen! Even the heathen have hope! 

Even so, look at verse 17: “A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation might not be changed.”

Other versions of the Bible say, “So that no one could rescue Daniel,” “that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel,” and “so that no one would interfere with Daniel's situation.”

This verse is laughable! Let’s laugh! Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Really?  A stone and a few seals and nothing will change?  No one can rescue him? Daniel’s fate is sealed and no one can interfere?

Is there something blocking your path today? Is there something that has you feeling shut in with no way of escape? Do you feel as though your situation won’t change? Do you think that what’s done is done and your fate is already determined?  Do you feel like Daniel?  Do you look like Daniel? Has someone written you off?

Lord have mercy!

There’s a reason why none of the pronouns in the verse above are capitalized, and there’s a reason why God allowed these silly men to block Daniel’s exit and go through all the histrionics of sealing the lion’s den.  Let there be no doubt that if, in fact, Daniel is rescued, the credit and the glory and the all the honor will go to our Lord!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that nothing is too difficult for you, and nothing, certainly not a mere mortal and his seals, can stop You.  A doctor’s report can’t stop You. A crisis at work can’t stop You.  A rebellious child can not stop You.  And a stone?  Rolling those away are Your specialty.  In Jesus’ mighty name, AMEN~  

God Will Save Us~

TGIF greetings,

Let’s all get inspired with Daniel as we continue his story.

Daniel chapter six tells us he was a man of “exceptional qualities,” “he was more capable than all the others,” and he possessed an extraordinary spirit.”   As a result he was in a position of authority – only second to the king.  For these reasons he became a target.  His jealous employees persuaded the king to make it illegal to pray to anyone but the king for the next 30 days, but Daniel did not, I repeat, did not back down.

Of course, the troublemakers were there, and “found Daniel praying and asking God for help.”

They didn’t find him freaking out, pacing the floor, or questioning his faith.  They found him praying and asking God for help.  Our very first course of action, no matter what, should always be to pray and ask God for help. 

Nevertheless, than they went straight to the king and reminded him about the decree that anyone who prays to anyone or anything except the king would be thrown into the lions’ den.  “They said to the king, ‘Daniel pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.’  When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.”

That poor king! He felt horrible.  To his credit he tried all day to save Daniel, but those troublemakers were nearby reminding him that “according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”

Dear brothers and sisters, sometimes even the number one person in charge can not save us, but you know Who can? “So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.” Other versions of the Bible say, "May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you," and "May your God, whom you always worship, save you!"

I speak this powerful truth over every one of us today: May the God whom we serve continually rescue us, in Jesus’ name! May the God we worship save us, and our God is going to get us out of whatever mess we are in! Amen!

Just As He Had Always Done~

Tuesday greetings,

Daniel was a godly young man who was so smart and so good at his job as supervisor over an entire kingdom that the jealous guys who worked for him plotted to overthrow him. The Bible says, however, that they could not find any scandal to use against him.  Daniel was “totally exemplary and trustworthy.”

They came up with another plan:   “We’re never going to find anything against this Daniel unless we can cook up something religious.”

They all went to the king and convinced him to issue a decree that “For the next thirty days no one is to pray to any god or mortal except you, O king. Anyone who disobeys will be thrown into the lions’ den.” And just like that, “King Darius signed the decree.”

What on earth would we do at this point?  I hope we never have to find out.  Daniel, on the other hand, “when he learned the decree had been signed and posted, continued to pray just as he had always done.”

JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE…

Daniel was a man of prayer before the ridiculous decree, and nothing – not even the threat of being thrown in a lion’s den – would stop him from being a man of prayer afterward.

It occurs to me that maybe the reason he was such a great guy to begin with is because he spent time with God on a daily basis.  In fact, “Daniel’s house had windows in the upstairs that opened toward Jerusalem.  Three times a day he knelt there in prayer, thanking and praising his God.”

I wonder what this world would be like if all the men on planet earth took time, three times a day, to kneel in prayer and thank and praise our Lord?

Nevertheless, an important point for us all to embrace is that prayer must become a daily habit.  When we come under fire, when we are stressed, when others come against us, when we are threatened, when we are weary, we keep on praying.  The time to start praying is not after the problem, but way before, even when times are good.  Daniel was already in the habit of praying as he enjoyed a position only second to the king.  By the time that decree was issued, Daniel had already discovered that God is awesome and that he would trust Him over what those mere mortals were planning.

Powerful truth of the day: Prayer prepares us for problems. 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We admire Daniel!  No wonder his name means “courage”.  It takes guts to keep on praying when you know you’re going to be punished.  But it would be worse to turn away from the very means that has brought peace, joy, hope, and guidance into our lives.  May we always stay true to You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN~