There is no doubt that God loved Daniel. Daniel never backed down when it came to doing what was right in God's eyes. Refusing to bow down before any other gods, Daniel's life was put on the line more than once.
I feel the need to throw out this question today-if you stood for everything that was right in God's eyes-and because of it you were ordered to be put to death-AND, if our Lord God who you stood for therefore RESCUED you from the perils of death-yes, you walked out of the jaws of the enemy, unharmed- would you do it again?
Read it again, as you may be reeling over what you just read. Okay, if you won't re-read it-let me ask you again (because I'm pushy that way). IF you stood for everything that was right in God's eyes-AND because of it you were ordered to be put to DEATH-AND, if our LORD OUR GOD who you stood for therefore RESCUED you from the perils of death-yes, you WALKED OUT OF THE JAWS OF THE ENEMY, unharmed...........would you do it again?
Some of you will say it depends on the circumstance, while some will say I don't know. Others will immediately shout ABSOLUTELY. And others will simply say no.
I started out writing to you today wanting to continue my quest for the top ten most effective prayers....and this is leading into that I promise. However, I think instead God wants me to write to those of you today who are tired; those who have recently been hurt so bad that they can't get up. You will know who you are because you are the ones that just answered my question by saying “I don't know if I could do it again.” And, I'm definitely speaking to you who just said quickly, without having to think, “No, I cannot do it again.”
Today you feel trapped in the desert. You are crying out to God and are fairly certain that He does not hear you. Matter of fact, you are nearly convinced that He really doesn't even care about you, or any of your issues. You have prayed, you have done what you thought was right, you tried to stay positive, but enough is enough. As if losing everything you ever wanted was not enough, you stand here now thinking, I've got nothing else to give. You might even be questioning if God is even real.
You're not alone. So many people are tired. They feel they have been in the fire for so long, that they have nearly burned to nothing. Life is hard, and is only getting harder. WHY is that?
Here is what I feel God speaking to me today. And, you can take it or leave it. But I hope you take it-even though you may leave it-and in that case, it will be waiting for you when you are ready. Daniel stood for God NO MATTER THE COST. The Bible teaches us that in the face of even DEATH Daniel stood in front of the earthly leaders and shook his head. If I had to visualize Daniel-I would say he was so polite that it made the leaders MAD! I am sure that when demands were put on him to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar he politely said, “This I cannot do. This I will not do. I am sorry.”
You cannot tell me that these rulers weren't a little afraid of Daniel. I mean, he could interpret the dreams that NO ONE-NO ONE could! He heard from GOD! It is interesting how the people asked for truth. And, when they got it, they despised it. Here is a man who refused to bow down to other gods, who refused to eat any foods that were unclean, who never compromised his friends, and daily sat at the feet of God to gain understanding and knowledge. Yet, even Daniel was thrown in the lion's den, and in the fiery pit.
Have you read Daniel? It says in Daniel 3:22 Therefore, because the king's command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. The fire that these men were being sent into was so extremely hot, that the guards that walked them to the door of the furnace burned to DEATH as they tried to place the three inside. Yet, the three fell down bound together into the midst of the burning fiery furnace (v. 23).
Let me point out that these men of God were able to endure a flame that was much hotter than any man could stand. God protected them through the hottest part as they were led to a place even hotter than that! I'm thinking this may be like jumping into a pool of hot lava!
They did not die there. Matter of fact, not even a hair on their head was burned. They didn't even smell like smoke!!! (I roasted marshmallows last week, and I stunk like crazy!) These men were in the MIDDLE of the fire, and you never would have known it.
Daniel 3:25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
Jesus Himself rescued the men. Because of their belief that their God would rescue them-because they stood firm to His promises-because they NEVER backed down, NEVER doubted, and NEVER stopped praying...........God showed up.
Your trials are not in vain. If you stand in the fire and you say, “I cannot take this. Let the fire burn me. I'm not sure there is even a God,” then you will burn up for sure. Remind yourself of Daniel-and if you don't know him, then learn about him. He was on his face before God. Not just when things went bad-but in the good. He rejoiced in the face of adversity and gave glory to God in all things. He never gave up. He would not give in. He believed that His God would save him.
And He did.
This may not be your first trial. Those who follow after God face many trials. It's just a fact. How are you facing your trials today? If you are really suffering right now, you are saying, “you have no idea how bad my life is, so don't even preach to me.” But I do know. I know what it's like to lose a home, to lose everything we worked so hard to gain, been poor, and stood in the middle of the fire crying to get out. I've been there-and I didn't get let out of the fire-NO, the heat was turned up. When I thought I couldn't take it any more, the fire became even hotter. I HATE the fire, yet I LOVE the fire. It's painful, and it's the time I feel I have lost all control and am at my weakest point. However I love it, because I know that I have lost control, and I am at my weakest point-and THAT is where God does His best work. I would go there again. I have-again, and again.....and I will go there how ever many times it takes.
He will save you. But you have to do your part. You cannot have God as your god of convenience. Even His favorites are put to the test. You are God's favorite. And He just wants you to look up to heaven, right now in the midst of the fire, and say, “My God will save me.”
And He will.
I promise
Rhonda
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