Daniel 10-12
These chapters contain "Daniel's Vision of a Man" that prophecies a bunch of war and battles between three kings... It's hard for me to determine what I am suppose to learn from this or how I am suppose to use these words to advance the kingdom. I think just being aware of that fact that God's got in all under control. He's always got a plan. He's thinking of Daniel, you, and me always and no matter what comes our way it's because He planned it. And all that yucky stuff- "so that they may be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end."
God, Refine me, Purify me, make me Spotless unto You. No matter what that means; war, pain, loss, or goodness. Whatever You have planned I am ready. Ready to become more Holy for You.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Daniel 8 & 9
So again more dreams, visions, interpretations, messages from Gabriel, etc. that I don't understand. Dang it.
God help me to understand what these verses mean and how to apply them in my life.
In chapter 9 Daniel offers up a prayer for the city of Jerusalem. The city has been devastated by the destruction of the Lord and they have remained sinful. Towards the end of the prayer after thankfulness and tons of confession Daniel says, "We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, becas your city and your people bear your Name."
How interesting is that? I wonder if I pray and make requests because I think I am righteous? Probably. I need to keep this in my heart.
So again more dreams, visions, interpretations, messages from Gabriel, etc. that I don't understand. Dang it.
God help me to understand what these verses mean and how to apply them in my life.
In chapter 9 Daniel offers up a prayer for the city of Jerusalem. The city has been devastated by the destruction of the Lord and they have remained sinful. Towards the end of the prayer after thankfulness and tons of confession Daniel says, "We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, becas your city and your people bear your Name."
How interesting is that? I wonder if I pray and make requests because I think I am righteous? Probably. I need to keep this in my heart.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Daniel 7
Daniel had a crazy dream. Four beasts. The last one crazier and more terrible than the rest. He interprets the dream as three kings and a kingdom.
"But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rules will worship and obey him." Is this a prophecy of Jesus?
I really don't know what to take away from this....
Lord, keep me diligent in spending time in your Word.
Daniel had a crazy dream. Four beasts. The last one crazier and more terrible than the rest. He interprets the dream as three kings and a kingdom.
"But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rules will worship and obey him." Is this a prophecy of Jesus?
I really don't know what to take away from this....
Lord, keep me diligent in spending time in your Word.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Daniel 6. Daniel in the Den of Lions
Well, I would say this is one story of Daniel that most people are familiar with, including me. I was struck by the qualities of Daniel that were described in this chapter.
When people tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel they couldn't because of his "exceptional qualities."
When a law was put in place to forbid anyone from praying for anyone besides the king Daniel didn't pray in secret, he didn't pray by himself or in hiding. He immediately went home and prayed, "giving thanks to his God...and asking God for help."
Even the king was trying to save Daniel against the law he put in place. "The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you."
And that's exactly what God did; shut the mouths of the lion, keeping Daniel safe, and turning the king into a believer...
The decree from the king:
Well, I would say this is one story of Daniel that most people are familiar with, including me. I was struck by the qualities of Daniel that were described in this chapter.
When people tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel they couldn't because of his "exceptional qualities."
When a law was put in place to forbid anyone from praying for anyone besides the king Daniel didn't pray in secret, he didn't pray by himself or in hiding. He immediately went home and prayed, "giving thanks to his God...and asking God for help."
Even the king was trying to save Daniel against the law he put in place. "The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you."
And that's exactly what God did; shut the mouths of the lion, keeping Daniel safe, and turning the king into a believer...
The decree from the king:
For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.
How cool is Daniel? That is the second king that has seen Daniel live and become a believer of the one true God.
I pray my life can stand as such a testimony. That I will serve continually, trust, and obey my God without fail and in doing so shine the light of Christ for all to see.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Daniel 5
There is a new king, Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar. He is having a party, praising the gods of gold, silver, iron, wood, stone etc. In the midst of this party a "hand" comes and writes on the wall... Ok, seriously strange... No one knows what it says, none of the magicians can figure it out so the king eventually calls David in again. David tells the king the story of his fathers rise, fall, and new life in the Most High God. He says, "But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this... You did not honor the God who holds in his hands your life and all your ways..." Nevertheless, David interprets the writing on the wall and honestly, I'm a little confused about where the story goes from there...
The writing says "Mene (mina, money) : God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel (shekel) : You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres (divided or half mina) : Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
What does it mean he was weighed and found wanting?
Why didn't God give him another chance, like he had with his father? I think because he knew all that had happened with his father and never "humbled himself..." But still pretty harsh because after he promoted Daniel the king was slain and a new ruler took over. Sucks for him.
And what can I learn? How can I apply this in my life?
Well, I think I better learn from the mistakes of my parents... What does that mean?
A little confused on this one...
There is a new king, Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar. He is having a party, praising the gods of gold, silver, iron, wood, stone etc. In the midst of this party a "hand" comes and writes on the wall... Ok, seriously strange... No one knows what it says, none of the magicians can figure it out so the king eventually calls David in again. David tells the king the story of his fathers rise, fall, and new life in the Most High God. He says, "But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this... You did not honor the God who holds in his hands your life and all your ways..." Nevertheless, David interprets the writing on the wall and honestly, I'm a little confused about where the story goes from there...
The writing says "Mene (mina, money) : God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel (shekel) : You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres (divided or half mina) : Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
What does it mean he was weighed and found wanting?
Why didn't God give him another chance, like he had with his father? I think because he knew all that had happened with his father and never "humbled himself..." But still pretty harsh because after he promoted Daniel the king was slain and a new ruler took over. Sucks for him.
And what can I learn? How can I apply this in my life?
Well, I think I better learn from the mistakes of my parents... What does that mean?
A little confused on this one...
Monday, January 24, 2011
Daniel 4
The king has another dream. Daniel interprets. The dream is fulfilled. God takes away the authority of the king: he loses his kingdom, his people, is forced into the wilderness to live like a wild animal, and after seven "times" he eventually "acknowledges that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes."verse32
It takes a lot, eating grass, his hair growing like feathers and nails growing like the claws of a bird and a very long time before the king recognizes the greatness of the Lord, before he know that my God can do what as he pleases, before he fears the Lord....
The king had gotten too powerful or thought he was at least...
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." Proverbs 9:10I pray that for a greater fear of my all-knowing, all-powerful God.
***Also, for church this week I will be reading through Philippians everyday.
This Sunday we learned Philippians is about CHRIST as my life, example, goal, and strength.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Daniel 2: 24-49 & 3
The story of Daniel interpretting the dream of the King. & of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being thrown into the firely furnance and coming out unharmed.
Because these three men were willing to "Trust in [God] and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God" God protected them in the fire. He even sent someone to protect them and be with them inside the fire.
There are times in my life when I know I am being refined by fire. I must trust God and deny the ways of the world and he will be there. Seriously be there right next to me...
Thank you God for refining us by fire and standing next to us through it all.
The story of Daniel interpretting the dream of the King. & of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being thrown into the firely furnance and coming out unharmed.
Because these three men were willing to "Trust in [God] and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God" God protected them in the fire. He even sent someone to protect them and be with them inside the fire.
There are times in my life when I know I am being refined by fire. I must trust God and deny the ways of the world and he will be there. Seriously be there right next to me...
Thank you God for refining us by fire and standing next to us through it all.
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