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Recipe: Take 1 Faithful human Fill with Holy Spirit Yields: Miracles in any Economy
I am a little hesistant over my creative title because I fear that it may be a stubbling block for a few people.
But we see this truth many times over in the Bible and I think some of us get confused when we take it beyond The Book and move it into application of our daily lives. Let’s not get off track of God’s purpose & plan when we think of miracles. I think we detour when we consider miracles only in self centered terms of God making us financailly wealthy, God give us a new home to live in, or maybe even God heal my Aunt of cancer, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I completely believe God can heal cancer and He is the source of all our needs. Just don’t allow the afflicitions of life to put blinders of self on your eyes that you miss the greater purpose of His miracles. Remember all of this is that He might be glorified.
Back to the verse at hand: When I was first given these verses I didn’t feel like I had a lot to work with. The only part that really stood out to me was “Daniel was distinguished above the presidents because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.” I immediately thought “Whoa, I wanna be like that dude.” So what made him that cool? I had to flip back to chapter 1 & read my way through. Chapter one tells us of Daniel’s character: he was faithful to his beliefs in God. Because Daniel chose to go against the norm God blessed Daneil with knowledge, wisdom & understanding. Continuing my way through I keep noticing two things: 1) Daniel consistantly gives the glory to God 2) that he is often reffered to being full of the Divine Holy Spirit. When we get here to the 6th chapter Daniel is about in his 80′s and this wasn’t the first time Daniel had been given a superiority. He had actually been through a few high ranked positions. Yet Daniel didn’t let rank inflate his ego. He even told King Belshazzar to keep the gifts. (5:17) (Reminding anyone of Rom. 12?)
Daniel had focused his soul’s view on God (now that’s COOL) and out of that God used & blessed Daniel (regardless to the economy/who was king).
Faye, Regarding what you said about miracles – that is so true. “Name it and claim it” doctrines that feed on greed are just a huge perversion. We Americans are so weighed down with material stuff we hardly ever see much more appreciate God’s provision.
Daniel was always in God’s presence. If I was always in His presence what would my character and prayer life look like? What kind of wisdom and success would I have? Regardless of “success” here, how cool would it be just to be considered “highly esteemed” by God? That’s what I really want and need, but am I willing to make the choice? God gives us the Holy Spirit so we have the power to make the choice Daniel did (Philippians 2:13).
(BTW – your previous job as galley slave sounds pretty cool, except for the word “slave.”)
Faye I am glad you looked back to see Daniel the man of God in a foriegn land. I have used a simple definition of character to teach my kids at school. Character is the way you act when no one else is looking. I too want to be “highly esteemed “by God. My problem is I want to be highly esteemed by others too. So I do clean up for company so to speak. I am different when I am with family and those I count as close friends compared to my work personallity,or my church self.
Lord help me today to live life full of the Holy Spirit and praying for a life like Daniel,a servant dedicated to God.
Faye -
I always like the way you roll. Thanks for writing.
The man of integrity… the man of prayer… the man of God that Daniel was … holds up an example that succeeds in any economy. This will preach!
More crazy news this morning about Nissan laying off 20,000. Claire’s, Chrysler, Rite Aid, Dollar Rental Cars, Sbarro, Six Flags, Blockbuster, Krispy Kreme, Sirius Satellite Radio, and Trump Entertainment Resorts — are all on the bubble according to a Yahoo news bulletin. I think news like this puts a little wobble in all our our knees.
BUT, a man or woman whose integrity is shaped by the discipline and privilege of prayer allows God to be seen and glorified in any economy.
Lord, do things we’re not used to exactly because of and through prayer.
I really wanted to take this devotional beyond what I wrote but I was trying my best to respect a “350″ word limit.
I wanted to add a couple tid bits for those of us who like to wade into a little deeper waters.
I mentioned I looked back – reading through first 5 chapters – if you did that you read about the many dreams Daniel interpreted. What’s cool is you can go back further to Jeremiah (around ch. 50) and see where God had already sent prophesy that these things were to happen.
Bill points out that Daniel was always in God’s presence.
For me, I have to make the effort to focus into His Presence. I have to get this flesh stuff out of the way. I am encouraged by how Luke 11:13 reads in the Amplified:
If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts [gifts [a]that are to their advantage] to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!
Asking Him for the Holy Spirit?…. hmm… sounds like a call to prayer… Prayer that causes things to become different. Prayer that gives us God’s glasses to see the world.
Has anyone ever asked God “How do you run the world?”
Keep cooking, God – I want you to use me in Your recipe!
Thanks Fay.
I have been amazed at how God keeps working with what we give him.
This reminds me of Bishop Davids prayer that the Lord will do extra ordinary things through ordinary people.
Faye, you’re awesome….I knew there was something special about you…you have a great intuition and sensitive spirit towards God’s word.