Devotion:
Read Daniel 2:23.
It’s just one verse, but it gives us a glimpse into quite the story of God’s abiding care and Daniel’s abiding faith. Even as an exile in a foreign land, with his life in danger, Daniel gives thanks to God, recognizing that God has answered the prayers from him and his friends.
Living with fear can be an overwhelming experience in anyone’s life. As an exile in a in foreign land, Daniel, no doubt lived with great fear. Even though Daniel had been chosen for the King’s service for his gifts of wisdom and understanding, he knew his life was always in danger.
King Nebuchadnezzar had a disturbing dream. He asks his astrologers to tell him what the dream was and to interpret it. They declare that no one can do that. This made the king so angry that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. At this point, this includes Daniel and his three friends.
Daniel went to his three friends to pray with him that God would have mercy to reveal the mystery of the dream so that Daniel, his friends and all the wise men of Babylon would not be executed. God was faithful and revealed the mystery to Daniel in a vision.
This verse 23 is the concluding part of Daniel’s prayer of praise and thanksgiving for God’s power and faithfulness. Throughout Daniel’s life, he remains faithful through prayer and actions unto God, even when it places his life in danger. When he interprets the dream for the king, the king wants to give credit to Daniel. Daniel gives the credit completely unto God.
Let us allow Daniel’s prayer to inspire us. Even in times when we are afraid, we can remain faithful in praise and thanksgiving unto God. Daniel’s prayer reminds us that God holds all wisdom and power, listens to our prayers and is our refuge and strength.
Personal Worship Option:
Daniel lived a life of thanksgiving with words and with actions. Daniel remained faithful in worshiping and praying unto God even when King Nebuchadnezzar wanted him to worship the golden statue and even when King Darius made the decree that all should worship the king only. How can we remain faithful in thanksgiving unto God with both words and actions?
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