Word-Filled Wednesday ~#93~ Facing the Lions, Do it Anyway

"Now Daniel so distinguished himself . . . that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom . . . [The other leaders] could find no corruption in him, because he was trust-worthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, 'We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.'

"So [they] went to the king . . . 'the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god . . . except you, O king, shall be thrown into the lion's den' . . . 

"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had before." ~Selected verses from Daniel ch. 6.

Unless you live, work or go to school in a completely Christian environment, chances are that on some level you daily face the lions of the corruption and animus of unbelievers who would just love nothing more that to see you fail. Or better yet, deny your God. 

Daniel and his three friends, having basically been kidnapped from their godly household and made to work for a hostile, pagan government, were constantly watched to see if they would fail. Those who were against Daniel even set him up to disobey the rules. I'm sure this was no surprise to Daniel. So what did he do? Not only did he continue to pray, He threw his window open wide ~ where he could be seen AND heard ~ and prayed to the One True God that he served! 

In case you don't know the story, Daniel was arrested and thrown into a den of lions for continuing for pray to God as he always did ~ his enemies hoping he would be eaten alive ~ but his God ~ OUR God ~ caused the an angel to shut the lions' mouths. Daniel's bold faith was rewarded by God.

In our part of the world, we will probably never face real lions, but we do face other "lions" who may seek our failure of faith. The Lord is asking us to be bold in our faith; to be consistent in our devotion to Him. Not as a show, but in Lifestyle Evangelism ~ If you pray in restaurants before your meal, don't skip it just because you may be eating lunch with an unbeliever, pray anyway. If a relative, co-worker or classmate is going through a hard time, offer to pray for them right where you are. Few will turn it down. 

Expressing your faith is only a "show" if it is not how you sincerely live your life, that is of no "threat" to anyone; sincere expression of faith is all the Lord wants this dying world to see from us. Even if the world doesn't like what they see, do it anyway.

Blessings from Ohio . . .  Kim<><