Trust God

Daniel 6:15-16

¹⁵ Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”

 ¹⁶ So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”

How horrible King Darius must have felt.  But a law is a law.  For Daniel, he must of been praying furiously.  The group of men must have been feeling smug.  They finally got Daniel right where they wanted him.  Down in the lion's den.  Which person(s) are you feeling like today?  King Darius for letting others mislead him?  The advisers for pulling one over on someone, or Daniel, being caught in the middle of something and not able to control the situation.  The good news is, that even though Daniel couldn't control what was happening, his God, the Living God, already had it under control.  We just have to let God have the situation and his will will play out.  How cool is that?  So turn over your troubles, situations and grief to him and let him do his will.  God will take over and you can be sure that you will come out okay.  It may be scary for a while, but as we are learning in our sermon series this month, we have to trust God like Daniel.

Listen to Yourself

Daniel 6:11-14

¹¹ Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. ¹² So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

   The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

 ¹³ Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” ¹⁴ 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 last sentence must have made the men out to get Daniel mad.  King Darius, who liked Daniel, had been tricked.  For thirty days anyone who prayed to anything or anyone other than King Darius would be thrown into the lions' den.  They then watched and waited for Daniel to pray, three times that day and caught him.  He agreed until he found out it was Daniel that was disobedient.  When he heard this, the king was upset and tried everything he could think of to save Daniel.  In our Sunday School class the other day, we discussed this.  It was stated by our group leader, that he did not understand that why as king, Darius just didn't repeal the law.  I think it may be because it may have made him appear weak.  

When you do something and realize it is wrong, don't you want to fix the problem as soon as possible.  He tried, but Darius had already let these men dictate to him a new law, and realized it was bad advice.  But it was too late.  God wants us to seek advice, from him, from our elders and family.  But beware.  God and your gut are the best at instinctive advice you have.  I tell my kids and husband, if you have a problem or a choice, listen to yourself.  It usually tells you exactly what you need and should do, because you know, all others want to push their agenda.  Go for the gut!

Talk to God

Daniel 6:10
¹⁰ Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.


Some rituals are not meant to be stopped.  Each day, I get up, start making lunches for the day, get the kids up for school, see them and Mike off.  Then depending on my day, I do my devotion or get ready for work.  There is certain things I do.  I always take a shower in the morning.  I read emails, Bible verses, and plan my day.  I pray for my family and others.  Daniel had a ritual.  He prayed toward Jerusalem three times a day.  And everyone knew it.  So when the wisemen, administrators and magicians decided to get him.  This is what they did.  That pinpointed that one area of prayer and persuaded the king to make a law to only pray to him.  


That didn't stop Daniel.  It would not have stopped me either.  I pray a lot during a day. (! Thessalonians 5:17 says..."pray without ceasing.")  It's a habit.  I hear a siren, I pray.  I get word that someone hurts or is sick, I pray.  But I don't go to a prayer closet, get down reverently on my knees and pray for a period of time.  Do you?  Daniel didn't let this decree stop him.  He knew it was wrong and he knew that it was God, not the king, who had got him through all the times before.  He knew from the time he was very young that the Lord Most High is to be exalted above everyone else and that God listens.  Daniel knew what the world doesn't.  God wants us to talk to him.  God listens to our needs.  God wants that conversation.  Daniel gave his relationship with God an important place in his life.  He made sure he talked with him three times a day.  


Is there anyone you talk to three times a day, every day?  I know I talk with my kids and husband that often.  I don't talk to my parents everyday, but I'm okay with that.  I do talk to God a lot during every day. So today, make it a point to talk to the most important people in your life and make God one of them.

What's Your Agenda?

Daniel 6:6-9

⁶ So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! ⁷ The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. ⁸ Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” ⁹ So King Darius put the decree in writing.

Sunday during Sunday School, this story was mentioned as part of our story.  It is funny how when we trust people, we do not think they would ever do anything to lead us astray.  At least not on purpose.  But, we are not a people of honesty.  Most people have an agenda of their own and doesn’t look out for others.  Many times, I have been chided because I “let people walk all over me.”  People think I am a door mat or weak.  But I don’t think that.  I always try and look at the big picture and see what really other people want to do and how much it will hurt others.  Normally, I go along with things because I don’t want to fight or it is not a big deal.  If I am passionate about it, I will stand up for whatever I need.  This shows that I too, sometimes have my own selfish agenda. 

King Darius believed in his advisors, administrators, prefects, and all.  He thought they would always give him good advice.  But he did not realize that the law they wanted him to put in affect would be against one of his favorite people.  He just willingly agreed to enforce this law.  It is crazy for any of us to think that someone would pray to us.  Why would you pray to me?  I cannot do a thing for you.  In fact, I am sure I have and will let you down.  God, on the other hand, has never let you down.  Whether you chose to believe in him, or believe and trust him, he will always step up and do what is needed for you.  Not what you need, mind you, but what is needed for the situation.  Sometimes that gets us in trouble because we are expecting something totally different.  But, he is the true one you can trust.

Being a Christian in the Workplace

Daniel 6:1-5

 ^1 [a]It seemed good to Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they would be in charge of the whole kingdom, ² and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer loss. ³ Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself ^[b]among the commissioners and satraps because ^[c]he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. ⁴ Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to ^[d]government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. ⁵ Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God.”


Up until now, Daniel has shown all the sign of being a great man whom we all would be glad to know, talk to, and help.  But this one verse shows that Daniel has a human side..."  Daniel began distinguishing himself ^[b]among the commissioners and satraps..."  Distinguishing himself among his peers and King Darius did not make him friends, did it.  I am not saying that you have to be like your peers.  I try to give everyone else the same consideration as I want from them.  I try not to gossip, criticize, keep my head up and do what I need to do at my job.  I think Daniel did the same thing and it made those under him in position dislike him.  They tried to find fault with him and realized that they couldn't.  They went looking for the bad in him.  It didn't work.  They did realize that they would have to look at how he dealt with his job and with God.  Isn't that something a lot of deal with?  It is hard to be a Christian in a non-Christian environment, isn't it?  
Lord, grant me your grace for today.  Give me the attitude I need to be your messenger in my job.  I thank you that I have a job and I praise you for it.

The Handwriting on the Wall

Daniel 5:24-30

 ²⁴ Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

 ²⁵ “This is the inscription that was written:

   MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN

 ²⁶ “Here is what these words mean:

   Mene^[e]: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

 ²⁷ Tekel^[f]: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.

 ²⁸ Peres^[g]: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

 ²⁹ Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.

 ³⁰ That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians,^[h] was slain, ³¹ and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.^[i]

King Belshazzar realized too late that the handwriting on the wall was the end for him.  We all

seem to realize too late (at times) that the path we are on is not the best one.  We all need to 

step back at times and see the bigger picture.  For us humans, that is sometimes impossible.  

I am not a big visionary.  I have a fault for not seeing what is to come, what may come, and all the 

possibilities around me.  That's why I have great people around me.  They bring things to the 

table that I wouldn't even dream of.   I do learn from the mistakes of others and do not have to 

make my own mistakes "just to see if it will happen again".  

Daniel read the writing and told him that the king would be dethroned and the kingdom would be 

pulled apart.  That is what happened.  Belshazzar gave Daniel his reward, and that night, he was

killed.  What can we learn from this story?  Sometimes we need to step back and see the bigger 

picture before God has to send a clear message.  

Lord, open my eyes and let me see clear, the path you want me on and the decisions you 

want me to make.  I love you and want to serve only you.

Learning from Parental Mistakes

Daniel 5:18-24

¹⁸ “Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. ¹⁹ Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. ²⁰ But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. ²¹ He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.

 ²² “But you, Belshazzar, his son,^[d] have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. ²³ Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. ²⁴ Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

Learning from your parents mistakes.  King Belshazzar's father was a prideful man, thinking he created his kingdom and accepted all the glory.  But God, in his wisdom, showed King Nebuchadnezzar who really is in charge and the king finally acknowledged the Lord Most High.  King Belshazzar watched and saw, but did not learn from that.  Maybe it was the young and his sense of "it will never happen to me, I'm invincible!" Whatever it is, it seems that children take their parent's mistakes to the next level.  Not all of them.  Some do their best not to make the same mistakes.  

   When we are trying to help or correct Timm, he always asks me the question that drives me crazy..."How do you know?"  Seriously?  How do I know what will happen or what happened when I was in that situation?  Maybe because I'm older, wiser, more experienced and have been through it?  Some never learn, some have to go through it themselves no matter what.  I guess that is how God looks at us when we mess up.  I never seem to get certain things, even when I read the Bible and see what is to come or what the consequence will be.  Sometimes we never learn.  I pray today that I will break that pattern and do as my Heavenly Father asks.