Daniel 6:1-28
(I am sharing this believing that there is someone who needs to hear this today!)
We all know about Daniel and the lion’s den right? As I read this for my morning devotion the words seemed to leap into my heart. This simple yet profound story is something we can never stop learning from. I love how God’s word will ALWAYS speak to us, at any age. Younger children love this story, as adults do, God’s word meets us exactly where we are in life and will always minister to us, because his word is alive!
I don’t always have time to jot down some notes alongside my devotion but this morning I did, and when I do that the text seems to open up.
Here are a few things I want to point out.
What makes the story of Daniel and the lion’s den so real is Daniel’s relationship with God. God just opened my eyes to Daniel’s relationship and faithfulness to God. I love the way Daniel was not ashamed of his God, and everyone knew who Daniel was serving (even if they doubted his existence) Through Daniel’s relationship and boldness to worship God, God would protect him for events that were to come, only to show everyone that the God Daniel served was the living God.
We see how Daniel put his trust in God. Trust, complete… trust. Could you imagine being accused innocently and then thrown into a den of lions? Yet remaining calm and TRUSTING GOD because of your relationship with him? That faith is bold and inspiring!
Daniel 6:19-24
“Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”
Daniel answered, “Long live the king!” My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouth so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.
Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den.”
Daniel’s trust in God saved him, because he held his God true for who God says that he is. When we trust in God and fully lay down our fears, desires, wants, needs… our everything we allow God to be God. We allow God to be the father he says he is in our lives. When we do this we give God the glory to show us who he promises to be. This is how he came through for Daniel and received all the glory that he deserves, pointing others to see that He is the one true living God!
People saw with their own eyes the miracle that God saved Daniel from the lions without a scratch on his body, and when his accusers were thrown in the lions’ den they tore them and their families apart before they even hit the ground. See the difference in relationship with God vs not having one?
Through Daniels trust and relationship God got all the glory and through this experience it lead the King to send a message out to the people of every race and nation and language of the world! The decree declared that the God Daniel serves is the one true living God, and that he rescues his people the way God rescued Daniel from the lions.
This is so exciting! It really spoke to me today and encouraged me that my God whom I put my trust and my life in his hands is worthy and deserving of receiving all the glory. When we do this we are giving God the room to move and show us who he says he is, through our obedience and relationship in him, pursing him without fear or hesitation other people will know whom we serve and we never know how the Lord will use our everyday life situations to draw others closer to him. To show others that he is the God our father who he says he is!
I’m not sure what you are going through, if you are being accused of something you haven’t done, if there is a situation in your personal life or family, if you are struggling to place your complete trust in God because you doubt who he says he is, today is the day to place it down. To trust him and have relationship with God, to give it all to him so he can do what he needs to do to receive all the glory and bring others to him, so they see by the signs, wonders and miracles that our God is alive.
I encourage all of you to not fear, to place your trust in the one who is worthy of it all, and to have bold faith that you are not ashamed of. Have a blessed day,
Daniel 6:26-28
” I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.
For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions. So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”
you are all loved!
Devon
Devon in Africa 