“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
As a child of God one of the assurances God has given every believer is being successful. In giving life, God has also blessed with each one of us gifts, which then can be developed into excellence and with that we receive the blessings of success. Proverbs 22:9 says, “Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.”
One example we see here is Daniel. He was one of “four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.” (Daniel 1:17). After he helped Nebuchadnezzar interpret one of his dreams, “Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men” (Daniel 2: 48).
One of the things we learn from Daniel’s life is that he did not let success get into his head. Knowing from whom it was; he remained faithful to God. Sometime later in his life Daniel was asked by King Nebuchadnezzar to bow and worship an image of his. To object would mean suffering death by being thrown in a blazing furnace. Look at what he told the king. “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18).
God, indeed, rescued Daniel. Humbled after being rescued, “Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon” (Daniel 3:30).
God desires that we should all be successful. He has blessed us with gifts which can lead us to “serve before kings.” However, wherever this success takes us, we should honor him and not let success get into our heads. Daniel would meet other challenges in his life, such as an order to obey a decree to worship false gods which he refused to give to. He was then thrown into a den of lion. God delivered him, and “Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian” (Daniel 6:28).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, creator of heaven and earth, I thank you for the gifts that you have given, which lead me to “serve before kings”; and today I pray that I may always use them to honor you, just like Daniel did.
Related upcoming events
-
17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
