Good morning! How was your night?
Here's your devotional text for Friday, December 15.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Daniel 6:1-10.
More than a thousand years after Joseph’s prison experience, another man went through a ferocious trial. His name was Daniel. He wasn’t a young boy anymore; he was over 80. He had gone through similar traumatic experiences like Joseph as a teenager but God had always delivered him. Now, he was serving as the prime minister for Darius the Median.
Sometimes, the blessings you receive from God make other people jealous. This was the case with Daniel. The country’s other political leaders tried to find a reason to bring him down, “but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.” Daniel 6:4 NKJV.
Study Daniel 6:4. Can someone say the same thing about you? Think about every area in your life. The way you treat your friends and your enemies, the way you do your taxes, the way you run your business and household — where can you be more “excellent” and honest?
The fact that no fault could be found obviously made Daniel’s colleagues even more angry. So they came up with a sneaky plan. They convinced the king of the country to issue a law that for 30 days, no one would be allowed to ask anything from God or man — only from the king. Whoever violated this law would be thrown into a den of lions. How they designed this brutal trap tells us a lot about their characters. A death sentence wasn’t enough for them; they wanted Daniel to be eaten alive.
The way these individuals approached and convinced King Darius says much about their characters. It also teaches us how the enemy of souls, Satan, works.
Analyze Daniel 6:6-9.
- How did these people approach Darius? What does that say about their motive?
- Is it true that they really included all political leaders in this decision-making process? Was someone left out? If so, who?
- What else do you see in the text that describes their tactic? Collect some adjectives to describe their strategy and execution.
Study Daniel 6:9. Why in the world did Darius sign that decree?!
Study Daniel 6:10. When Daniel went back to pray again, did he know that this decree was signed? Why did he decide to continue praying? Note: it’s not just because it was his “habit!” Why didn’t Daniel go to the king?
You’ve probably heard this before, but it’s worth repeating: Character isn’t established in a crisis; it is revealed. You don’t become a madman when you enter into a relationship and your girlfriend is annoying you; you have been a madman all these years — the crisis in your relationship is just revealing your true character. That’s why the “normal” days are so important. The “boring” days are actually not boring at all. When life is just floating by, and nothing special is happening, you and I have the chance to work on our characters.
What was easier for Daniel — praying on a normal Wednesday morning or praying on the day he heard about the death decree? What’s easier for you — doing your devotions on a lazy Sunday or on the day you have your finals and are stressed out? What’s easier — praying before you start your road trip or praying after you heard that your mom had a terrible car accident?
You see, the moments you have with God during your “normal days” are the same moments that make you turn to Him in the hour of greatest calamity and trepidation. Daniel’s devotional life enabled him to stay faithful to God when it mattered most. This is no rocket science. He wasn’t a superhero. You and I can be as faithful to God as Daniel was. We can have that same prayer life, the same faith. But God doesn’t push us. We have a choice to make.
Wouldn’t it be comforting to know that during your next trial, you would NOT feel anxious, depressed, or frightened? You would have this beautiful feeling of peace and calmness, although the situation looks scary, worrisome, and dangerous. Here’s how you get there. You establish a stronger bond with Jesus during your normal days.
Read Psalm 46. Study each verse if you have more time and think about powerful & personal takeaways.
