2020 has been a tough year for the WORLD. Sickness, death, financial hardships and all that political intrigue have made this a year to remember (and wish 2021 were here, now).
Life has become difficult and if the president elect does become the President of the United States, it may become unbearable. I for one, do not relish the prospect of living in a socialist country. All these things have weighed heavily upon me and frankly have disheartened me.
THEN, I saw this picture among the hundreds and hundreds in my collection- and I REJOICED! Could it be just a coincidence that the first part of my Bible Reading for yesterday was…
Daniel 1 ( World English Bible )
1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him.
2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
3 The king said to them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.
4 Then spoke the Chaldeans to the king in the Syrian language, O king, live forever: tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
5 The king answered the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if you don’t make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor: therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.
7 They answered the second time and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
8 The king answered, I know of a certainty that you would gain time, because you see the thing is gone from me.
9 But if you don’t make known to me the dream, there is but one law for you; for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, until the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.
10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man on the earth who can show the king’s matter, because no king, lord, or ruler, has asked such a thing of any magician, or enchanter, or Chaldean.
11 It is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
13 So the decree went forth, and the wise men were to be slain; and they sought Daniel and his companions to be slain.
14 Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, who was gone forth to kill the wise men of Babylon;
15 he answered Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so urgent from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
16 Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.
17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
18 that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19 Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20 Daniel answered, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might are his.
21 He changes the times and the seasons; he removes kings, and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22 he reveals the deep and secret things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
23 I thank you, and praise you, you God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we desired of you; for you have made known to us the king’s matter.
24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and said thus to him: Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show to the king the interpretation.
25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus to him, I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.
26 The king answered Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?
27 Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret which the king has demanded can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor soothsayers, show to the king;
28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head on your bed, are these:
29 as for you, O king, your thoughts came into your mind on your bed, what should happen hereafter; and he who reveals secrets has made known to you what shall happen.
30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but to the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.
Consider Daniel- taken to a foreign country and about to be killed for the actions ( in this case, inaction's) of others. Yet, God made a way for Daniel, because GOD is in Control. If the Almighty can do this, can he not solve our meager problems in The United States of America? Go back and read verse 21 again and have hope.
Notice something about this passage: After Daniel was told about his situation, he asked to see the king and after that God revealed the king’s dream to him. This demonstration of faith in God’s ability to supply a “way out” was rewarded by God helping Daniel. Won’t God help us as well. Pray, pray like you never have before!
America needs our prayers, now, more than ever!
PRAY!
God has answered before and will again. Believe this, for it is TRUE!