Is there an area of your life where you need courage?
Have you ever received a bad performance review? I once did! Despite pouring my heart and soul into the job, I was made to look like an insubordinate. Later on, I realised it was a scheme–trying to make me leave the job voluntarily to cut costs. The plan didn’t work, but that’s a story for another day. 🙃
What happened to me, though, doesn’t compare to what Daniel’s peers did to him (read the story in Daniel 6).
Daniel was a man who spent his life serving others with integrity and wisdom, earning the trust of those around him. He was a respected advisor to the king of Persia, known for his wisdom, his faithfulness, and his unwavering integrity.
The other officials in the king’s court were jealous of Daniel. They tried to find something wrong with the way Daniel handled his duties, but they couldn’t. So they came up with a cunning plan. Feeding into the king’s ego, they proposed a new law: anyone who would worship any other God besides the king had to be thrown into the lion’s den.
They knew Daniel’s devotion to God; it was just a matter of time before he would break the law. It was a trap.
By the time the king realised what he had done, it was too late. Bound by his own law, he had to throw Daniel to the lions.
Daniel spends the night surrounded by lions, a situation that seems absolutely hopeless.
Yet the impossible happens, when they open the den the next morning, Daniel is alive! In fact, he is unharmed–a chamatkar!
The key to Daniel’s miracle wasn’t polished prayers or endless declarations. It was a life lived with integrity, devotion and courage. Daniel did not compromise, not even when his life was at stake.
Are there areas in your life where you need Daniel-like courage to stand for what you believe? Bring it to God in prayer!
This text comes from the e-book Miracles in Motion. If you’d like to reflect on this story some more, please download the e-book for free. It outlines great life lessons you can draw from this miracle as well as intriguing questions to reflect on. I highly recommend it!
