The power of gifts and community

This week, I have been struck by the way Daniel sees himself in the second chapter of Daniel, particularly in just this one verse;

To you, O God of my fathers, 

I give thanks and praise, 

for you have given me wisdom and might, 

and have now made known to me what we asked of you, 

for you have made known to us the king’s matter.” 

Daniel 2:23.

This verse is the end of Daniel’s recorded prayer after Nebuchadnezzar’s dream had been revealed to Daniel and his friends. 

Daniel recognises the gifts God has given him, ‘you have given me wisdom and might’.  Remember, Daniel is still a young man in this part of the book, possibly late teens yet he already knows who he is - a man of understanding and strength. Isn’t that pretty powerful?! 

Daniel is secure and unafraid to admit that his characteristics have been passed down from His God - like we inherit things from biological parents - we also inherit gifts from our Father in heaven. Daniel recognises that and is grateful for it. He admits and accepts that he has been given wisdom and might from God, as, a few verses before, Daniel has mentioned that all wisdom and strength are God’s. So, now he acknowledges that God has imparted some of that wisdom and might to himself. He is not ashamed of it, he accepts that this is how God has gifted him. He doesn’t feel proud of himself for his understanding and strength, as if he acquired them himself through study and hardwork, but he gives all credit to God. Eventhough Daniel, in reality, has been studying for 3 years (as a captive of the Babylonians). Yet he realises this knowledge he has is not from dedicated effort or appropriate learning from books or others, it is an insight, an understanding, a wisdom that only God can provide.

We see here how God has imparted part of His own character - his wisdom and might to Daniel. What part of Himself has God imparted to you? 

Each of us are made in the image of God as it tells us this in Genesis .Therefore we all, like Daniel, have inherited some of God’s character due to being made in His image - isn't that incredible?! What we see here with Daniel as well, is that he doesn't play down the fact that he is gifted in certain areas, but instead he acknowledges and accepts them, then uses them. God gives us gifts not to amuse ourselves or to just lay dormant, but they are an impartation to you to use that you may demonstrate to the world some of God's character! 

Daniel accepts and acknowledges  that he is graced with wisdom and might. He is not embarrassed by it, but he sees how he has something others don’t, and he gives God the credit - this is the right way to appreciate the way God has made you. By using his God-given abilities, Daniel saves lives and reveals who God is to the current king - that’s pretty epic! 

What could you achieve if you start to accept and acknowledge the character that God has imparted to you?

Another thing I notice from this verse is that Daniel takes no credit for the revelation he has received, do you notice that? He says, ‘for you have made known to us the king’s matter.’ Do you notice that little word, ‘us’? Daniel very graciously admits that the revelation is due to his friends as well as himself praying. He recognises the group effort, and that the revelation, the breakthrough belongs to them all, not just to him. 

Daniel has not prayed alone or been in this situation alone, he and his friends are immersed in it together. Therefore the recognition belongs to them all. As they have prayed together, so they share the joy together. Daniel knows his value as part of this faith community, and he honours the fact that this success is theirs too.

When you pray about significant matters, do you pray in community? 

Who are those that you can invite to pray with you? 

When you pray with others, do you also share the victory and celebrate the breakthrough together?

Daniel accepts, values and reaches out to the friends of faith in his life, make sure that you have people in your life that you can do the same with - this is what it is to be the family of God. It is not easy to trust people with the innermost hurts and difficult situations, i know, i am one that finds it hard to share, but we can see time and again throughout the Bible where prayer in community brings change. In Daniel alone, we see how Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, the firm faith-filled friends; interpreted dreams, helped rule a nation, escaped death and saved lives! Through walking faithfully with God, acknowledging their opportunities and gifts, and by working together. 

If you want to see things change, if you want to grow in your faith, then spend some time figuring out what your gifts are - ask God, ask others, they will help you. Accept and acknowledge how God has made you, and get others of faith with you through thick and thin and see what God can do. With these four lads - captives, young, vulnerable, faithful and faith-filled, God was able to influence kings, and demonstrate that He is, "God of gods and Lord of lords"! (v17)

I wonder what you and I could do if we gathered together, prayed, celebrated and accepted our God-given gifts... 

Pray for a way

  

The following section of scripture in Daniel is about the dream that the King Nebuchadnezzar had. (Daniel 2:1-16).

The king was so disturbed by this dream that he couldn’t quite remember and couldn’t quite forget, that he ordered all sorts of 'wise' people to reveal both the dream and the interpretation. He called; astronomers, astrologers, enchanters -  all those who were considered wise in society. They were called upon to help understand the dream, and reveal the dream, but none could. 

Therefore, in his sleep-deprived, disturbed and aggravated state, Nebuchadnezzar ordered all of the wise men to be slaughtered. Even those who hadn’t been called upon and knew nothing of the situation. 

The first Daniel hears about it is when he is rounded up as one of the wise men to be murdered. Understandably, he asks what is going on. He then, confidently, approaches the king and asks for some time. He lets the king even set the time at which he wants Daniel to appear before him so that he can reveal the dream. That amazes me - the confidence and boldness! The confidence Daniel has that through God, he can do this impossible thing. Even though it has NEVER been done before! Plus the confidence to go in and ask a ruthless king - whom has just ordered his death - for more time! Don’t we all need a bit of that confidence and boldness in our lives?! 

The confidence and boldness of Daniel does not stem from pride, arrogance or self-esteem, it’s roots are in God. Daniel knows God can do something, and he trusts that God will. In reality, Daniel is a dead man walking anyway, so he might as well have a go at solving this thing, and he knows just the thing to do next...

    ...He goes home and prays with his friends. There are no; tearful goodbyes, thoughts of running away,  weeping or wailing. The friends get together, in their home and pray. All of their lives are at risk and they go to the only one who can offer solace or solution in this situation.

Such a simple solution really isn’t it?! 

These young men didn’t do anything else, they got together and they prayed. committing the whole situation to God, there may have been a bit of ranting, crying, confusion, but they didn't get together to have a moan - they got together and prayed. They recognised that coming to God is the only way there will be a solution. They sought God for a way out. They knew the only way that this situation could be transformed was by seeking God for favour, for help, and for their lives. 

In times of trouble, what do you do? 

What is your first response?

When you face impossible situations do you call upon your friends to pray?

Sometimes the only way an issue can change is by God intervening. Next time you face something significant, will you come confidently and boldly to God? Will you call your friends to pray with you in your trials knowing that God can do anything... even things that have never been done before?

As we read on in Daniel, we see that their prayers are answered, they receive the revelation of the dream and it’s meaning - wahoo! Do you notice that their first response again, is to pray?

These young men are a great example of dependence on God. In their desperation and deliverance, they pray. They acknowledge that this life is too hard to do it all by themselves, so they place their entire hope and future was in God’s hands. They celebrate and commiserate in community with one another with God at the centre of it all. is it any wonder that we still read their life story today?!

So, how are you going to handle the next situation that throws you off kilter? 

When you're facing a trial that seems too big for you, it probably is, so who are those you can call upon to pray with you through it and who will celebrate with you at the end of it? 

is God really real?

This is a question that is easy to ask periodically in life, it’s a good one too and it usually arises at times of difficulty, especially if you’ve been believing, hoping maybe even fasting and praying for a certain outcome that does not manifest.

What then?

Is God really real?

Is God as real when things don’t go your way as when they do? Can you believe and trust in Him even when the answer to your greater desire is no? Is God still good when the worst happens? Does He still love you or even exist when the answer to pouring your heart out is silence?

 These are the very real  situations that we all come face-to-face with at some point in our lives. Disappointment, loneliness, grief, debt, illness, failure - these things can all lead us to question the very existence of God. How can God exist or be considered good when there’s suffering in the world? When I’ve asked God for help and He didn’t answer -where was He?
These questions are heart-wrenching responses to the battles of life, in times where we feel confused, alone, overwhelmed and desperate - where is the one who’s meant to love us? Is God really real?

As a believer in God, I am not immune to these questions, to these very real, confusing and desperate emotions that are a result to the circumstances we find ourselves in.
Maybe now you expect me to give you an eloquent answer to all of these confusing questions interlaced with a bit of knowledge and theological input - well, I’m not, and I’m not sure I could if I tried. You and I need to work out our own answers in response to these things, your faith cannot rest on my answers - you need to work out your own and your own standing with Almighty God. I will, however, tell you a few thoughts of my own that keep me going through the terrible times;

1) God is either real or He isn’t - His existence is not dependent on whether today is the best or worst day of my life. I either believe He is real or I don’t, circumstances and feelings are irrelevant to this fact. I may become angry, confused, lack hope, but I cannot alter from the crux of this matter - either God is really real, or He isn’t.

2) Don’t tell my kids - but I don’t know everything! There are things that are out of my realm of understanding, there are circumstances I cannot predict or understand, I also make mistakes. Therefore I cannot tell what will happen long-term, and although I feel bad or sad about things, this does not mean that I ultimately know best and that God has got it wrong. I am fallible, God is not.

3) God is not in it for instant gratification like we are. God sees the long game, He knows the beginning from the end, and whatever is going on will bring about good for His people.
We do not like discomfort or suffering, yet God can see the effect of this and that it is actually for our benefit and for those around us too in the long-run.

4) God is good and loving always. I try to think of it like this; as a parent, I have to disappoint my kids sometimes, I have to say no, I have to limit them in some capacity - why? Well, sometimes they need to learn, they need to wait, they need to understand and grow, they need to develop relationships, forgive people, be patient, be aware of risk and probably a million other things! They need to learn to be responsible so that they become adults, not remain children. Therefore there are boundaries, and at times I will limit them, they will also have to navigate situations they don’t want to because I know that they are learning something in the process.
Now, God is a greater parent than I ever will be, so His reasons for our discomfort are greater than ours for our children. He wants us to learn, He does not want us to remain with a childish faith, but wants us to grow up, He wants us to realise who we are and who those around us are, this means we will have to navigate situations we don’t want to because we need to grow up!

5) God is God of the impossible.
We can easily miss what God is doing when we focus on our own emotions. In times of persecution I see the christians in the Bible praising God and even thanking Him for what He is doing in their lives. We have forgotten this lost treasure. We forget God’s bigness when we allow the bigness or our situations to override who He is. We can end up relying on our own capabilities, skills and resources instead of remembering who God is.
God is God of the impossible - He can answer 101 questions at the same time, He can turn around situations, He can bring rest and relief, He can resolve issues, He can breakthrough, He can wait, He can be silent, He can led you, and He can allow you to make your own decisions. He is Love, He is good. He never fails.
So, can you fail to trust Him?

Is God really real to you?