Category: Christian Blog

Where is Truth and Hope Found in this World?

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down. Daniel 4:37 (NKJV)

Watching the news, flipping from channel to channel; I find myself wishing to know truth. The truth hidden behind all the rhetoric, the bias, and the bend for sensationalism. With a heavy heart, praying that God would guide my thoughts and that God would heal the divide within the nation. How can I help? What can I do to spread the gospel? How can I shine light into the darkness? Yet, it begins with holding fast to the truth that God IS. Faith begins there. God is truth! God is justice! God is in Control! God is the Great I AM!

When the nation of Judah was taken captive into Babylon, it was exactly what God had warned them would happen. They failed to listen or heed warning. They failed to seek God or honor Him. They had continued on in their rebellion against God and worshipping other gods of their own making. Yet, look what God did as a result of that captivity!! What an amazing God of Grace, Love, and Hope He is! Out of those captives, through the fervent prayer and faithfulness of 4 men; God lead King Nebuchadnezzar (King of the Babylonian Empire) to a saving knowledge of God. What an amazing and wondrous thing that was! Continue reading “Where is Truth and Hope Found in this World?”

How to Really Know Faith when Facing Fiery Trials

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Daniel 3;17-18

When fiery trials of life come into our lives, all too often we despair or become angry. We may cry out to God with that piercing question, “Why?” We pray for a miracle when a loved one is ill and then wonder what happened when our loved one dies anyway. Couldn’t God have saved them? Couldn’t God have prevented the storm from ripping away all that I clung to on this earth? Couldn’t God have prevented the Cancer or the years of illness that followed? Of course, He could have!! But He didn’t in my case and often He doesn’t; yet, what He does is more miraculous than the miracle we are asking for.

Nebuchadnezzar had quickly forgotten his own words concerning God spoken to Daniel: “Of a truth it is that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings” (Daniel 2:47). Most certainly, he had either forgotten or misunderstood Daniels proclamation, “Thou, O King, art a king of kings, for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory” (Daniel 2:37). Much like a lot of people we meet. Perhaps they have come to the awareness of God; but, quickly become more occupied in their own self exaltation. Never falling to the ground in praise or awe of God’s Grace and Glory toward them. So it was,

Continue reading “How to Really Know Faith when Facing Fiery Trials”

How to Serve God with a Humble and Certain Heart

Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory Daniel 2:37

It was with great humility and certainty at the same time that Daniel went before the mighty King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel’s humility came because he fully understood that God was Sovereign over detail of life. It was God’s Sovereignty that had placed even this pagan King upon the throne and that allowed Judah to be taken captive. Daniel’s own fate had been God’s providential hand at work. Even if Daniel did not fully understand all the mysteries of God’s plan; Daniel still trusted God’s Mercy and Grace. After Daniel and his friends had earnestly prayed, God revealed to Daniel both the dream and the interpretation of the dream. So, it was that Daniel went before the King with both a humble spirit and a certainty of heart.

 

God had warned Judah over and over that their worship of selfish desires and pagan gods was leading toward their captivity. Yes, God was in control of the events. We do know that it was God who allowed this Pagan King to take Judah captive.

Continue reading “How to Serve God with a Humble and Certain Heart”

How to Find Wisdom When Life Looms as Impossible

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter. Daniel 2:20-23

 

King Nebuchadnezzar was having nightmares that awakened him with a sense of terror; yet, he could not remember the details. All he remembered was the terror they left behind deep within the core of his being. He called all of the sorcerers, the astrologers, and his most educated of men. Then, he asked that not only they interpret his dream; but, first they must recall his dream for him. Their reply was, “No man can do that! They would interpret the dream, but they could not discover the dream of another”. So the King was furious and decreed that all the wise men were to be killed. When Daniel heard of this he went to seek audience with the King and asked that he be given time to do what the others had not. Having been granted a day, Daniel hurried home and called his prayer warriors to join him.

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah joined together in prayer.

That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret Daniel 2:18

Note this, they asked that God’s mercy reveal this dream to Daniel. They did not demand or declare it as some right; rather, they cried out for mercy.

Continue reading “How to Find Wisdom When Life Looms as Impossible”

How to Find Purpose and Joy in This World

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore, he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Daniel 1:8

He was only about 14 or 15 when taken as a captive. Prior to that he had been a part of royalty in Jerusalem. Now he was a slave for the King of Babylon. The King ordained that the most intelligent, the most handsome, and the strongest would be chosen to live in luxurious housing and dine on the finest foods of the land from the Kings tables. Daniel was quickly selected as were three of his friends. But there was only one problem. The meats had been offered to idols and the wine was quite strong. So Daniel “purposed” in his heart not to defile himself; rather, to remain true to God’s laws and commandments, even if that meant his death. Yet, he did not protest nor did he sit quietly in despair waiting to die. He was going to follow God with all his heart and all his being. He proposed to the Prince of the Eunuchs to allow him as well as his three friends to eat only water and vegetables for the next ten days; after, which they would be examined to see if they were stronger and healthier than the rest. Then Daniel prayed. At the end of the 10 days, they were brought in audience with King Nebuchadnezzar. Continue reading “How to Find Purpose and Joy in This World”