Monday, January 16, 2012

Adventures through God

Daniel 5:7-12

 7 The king summoned the enchanters, astrologers[b] and diviners. Then he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
 8 Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. 9 So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.
 10 The queen,[c] hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. “May the king live forever!” she said. “Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale! 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. 12 He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.”

Why is it that when we get in a predicament that we can't figure out how to get out of, we immediately offer the best of the best to those who can?  Experts, specialist, and such doesn't always have the answers.  My family and I watched the last Indiana Jones movie over the weekend.  I grew up with those movies, and this one did not disappointment.  But, because it had been about twenty years since the last one, I found myself saying (to no one in particular), yep, that's how Indy is.  This comment referred to the fact that always, always, always, Indy rarely had a plan, he was forever "making it up as I go!"  It always made me laugh, because I am that way.  I don't mind going where God wants and doing what he wants because I look at it as an adventure.  My daughter, on the other hand, has to have a plan.  She is a junior in high school and wants to know where she's going to college, what her major is and plan as much out as possible before she starts her senior year.  I love that about her.  She totally cracks me up about it.  I honestly admire her, but I have no idea where this comes from.  
So I guess this devotion today took a totally different turn.  King Belshazzar is just another adventure that Daniel took on.  When the king's father, Nebuchadnezzar, took Daniel and his friends all those years ago, he didn't know what was going to happen.  But instead of fighting it, he accepted what happened and kept his faith in God.  He knew God knew what he was doing.  That is what I try to do.  It's hard when you feel like you are doing the worst job and barely keeping your head above water though.  Prayer, devotions, and talking about it is the best way to get through it.  God promised to take care of us and our needs if we trust him.  His plan may not be laid out for us, but that is okay.  Sometimes a need to know basis teaches us patience, frugality, and contentment.  As Paul said in Philippians 4:11-13, " 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength."  I pray I can someday be like Paul.

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