Winning in Difficult Situations
Daniel Speaks to Us Today Series
By Greg Johnson
http:/www.LovingGodFellowship.org
Daniel 2:1-23
In Daniel chapter two, King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that is very troubling to him. He believes that his gods are trying to tell him something about his powerful empire. It is important to him that he knows what this dream means so he demands that his wise men and magicians not only interpret the dream, but also tell him what he has dreamed. He knew that if he told them what he had dreamed, there would be a possibility that they would come up with their own interpretation. Having them tell him what he dreamed and also interpret the dream would insure him that they had heard from the gods.
King Nebuchadnezzar’s experts could not do what he demanded so he ordered them to be put to death. This order also included Daniel and his three friends. Men were sent to look for Daniel and his three friends to put them to death.
Daniel and his three friends found their self in another difficult situation. In Daniel chapter one, they overcame a difficult situation by just living counter to culture. God gave them supernatural help and he also gave them favor with others. This time, they had men sent by the king to kill them. It was a very difficult situation.
On our journey from earth to glory, we will face many difficult situations. God will help us get through all difficulties as we depend fully on Him.
DO NOT ALLOW YOUR DIFFICULTIES OVERPOWER YOU
(Daniel 2:13-16 NIV) "So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death. {14} When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. {15} He asked the king’s officer, "Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?" Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. {16} At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him."
Daniel refused to allow his difficulties to overpower him. He took charge of his situations and move forward in both wisdom and boldness. The Word of God says that he approached the one looking to kill him and “spoke to him with wisdom and tact.” After he understood the situation, he went to the king “and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream”. What wisdom and boldness God had given Daniel.
If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you have supernatural wisdom and boldness available to you to confront your difficulties. You are a temple of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in you. God’s Word says (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV) "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." God has given you power to confront your difficulties! Be bold in the midst of adverse circumstances!
God will give you the wisdom you need to handle every situation as you depend on Him. Wisdom is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit according to God’s Word in 1 Corinthians 12. As you place your trust and dependence in God, He will give you the supernatural wisdom that you need to handle your difficult situations.
PRAY!
Daniel goes to inform his three friends of his findings. (Daniel 2:17-18 NIV) "Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. {18} He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon."
Daniel shares the details of this difficult situation with his three friends and he urges them to pray. The key to winning in difficult situations is prayer. God has all of the answers and He has given us the powerful tool of prayer; communication with God Himself. What a privilege prayer is for us. I urge you to pray. Incorporate others to pray with you concerning situations in your life. Depend on God alone for answers.
These four men of God needed God’s wisdom. James said (James 1:5 NIV) "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. Jesus said (Matthew 7:7 NIV) "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Please know that God has the solution to your difficulty. Seek Him. Ask. Knock. Knocking signifies persistently. Don’t give up. Pray until you receive an answer. When the answer comes, a supernatural peace will come with it.
GIVE GOD PRAISE
These men probably prayed throughout the night. Their lives were at stake. (Daniel 2:19 NIV) "During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven".
God answered their prayer and they received the supernatural help that they needed to overcome their difficulty. Please notice Daniel’s response to what God did. Daniel did not exalt himself. Instead, Daniel humbled himself and exalted God. Daniel gave God praise. (Daniel 2:19-23 NIV) "During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven {20} and said: "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. {21} He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. {22} He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. {23} I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king."
God will enable and empower you to win in your difficult situations as you place all of your trust in Him. Be fully persuaded that God is for you and not against you. Be fully persuaded that He will help you. Be fully persuaded that He will keep His promises.
God will help you in such a way to make it clear to all involved that He is God and worthy to be praised. As He does, just simply humble yourself and give Him the glory. Exalt Him to those around you. As He is lifted up, He will draw others to Himself.
Please know that God desires to move in your difficult situations so that He can be exalted. To win in your difficult situations, it requires you to simply humble yourself. Humble yourself and depend on God and not your own abilities. Humble yourself and pray. Humble yourself and praise God. If you do, you will be a winner in difficult situations just like Daniel!
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