The Daniel Differenceনমুনা

Daniel’s Powerful God

Daniel was a pray-er. He was so committed that he chose to build his schedule around three prayer times a day. Yesterday, we looked at the blessings of wisdom and courage that God gave Daniel because of his faithfulness. But there are more! 

Psalm 31:19 says, "How great is the goodness You have stored up for those who fear You. You lavish it on those who come to You for protection, blessing them before the watching world." The Lord lavished blessings on Daniel:

Daniel was blessed with a powerful testimony and great influence

Read Daniel 2:46-49; Daniel 4:1-3; Daniel 4: 34-37; Daniel 6:25-27

Each of the passages you read are the words of heathen kings – King Nebuchadnezzar and King Darius. These violent leaders of ruthless, heathen cultures are praising the One True God. Because of Daniel's faith and his faithfulness, God was able to do amazing things through him, such that even kings of empires were awestruck. How incredible it must have been for Daniel to hear those words of praise. How they must have echoed in his spirit. How many others must have also heard those words and seen those wonders and understood that the God Daniel served was so much greater than the gods of the Babylonians, Medes, and Persians. What a wonderful testimony!

Daniel was blessed with a God-given identity

Read Daniel 9:20-23; Daniel 10:10-19

In these latter chapters that recount Daniel's dreams and visions, we find a gem! Daniel is told specifically how God saw him. Three separate times he is told, "You are treasured by God." 

Treasured by God! It brings to mind the verse in Zephaniah 3, "The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in his love. He will delight over you with singing."

Daniel was visited by an angel who assured him that he had come because of Daniel's prayers. This angel reassured him, strengthened him, and gave him those wonderful words, "You are treasured by God." Of all the ways that Daniel was identified – Israelite, captive, ruler, advisor, dream-interpreter – don't you think that the identity that mattered to Daniel was "treasured by God"?

Where do you get your identity? You probably have numerous titles: son, daughter, parent, spouse, friend, employee, boss, etc. Do you have an identity that goes beyond and enhances any others? Do you embrace your God-given identity?

Hear Greg discuss Daniel’s ambassadorship: https://youtu.be/XQEjYz1GmWs