Today’s Reading: Daniel 2; Psalm 5

Tell me what I dreamed and what it means — this was the unreasonable demand of King Nebuchadnezzar to the wise men of Babylon. When they were unable to do this, he ordered their execution. When the officers came to kill Daniel, he handled the situation with wisdom and discretion. He asked for more time and then he went to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) and asked them to pray.

He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon. That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. He said,

“Praise the name of God forever and ever,
for he has all wisdom and power.
He controls the course of world events;
he removes kings and sets up other kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the scholars.
He reveals deep and mysterious things
and knows what lies hidden in darkness,
though he is surrounded by light.
I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors,
for you have given me wisdom and strength.
You have told me what we asked of you
and revealed to us what the king demanded.” – Daniel 2:18-23

So, when faced with a difficult situation, a matter of life or death, Daniel gathered his friends together and they prayed for God’s intervention. Then, when God answered their prayer, Daniel first took time to praise God, acknowledging the source of all wisdom, power, knowledge and strength.

PRAYER & PRAISE WERE TWO OF THE MAIN INGREDIENTS TO DANIEL’S SUCCESS — TO HIS EXCELLENCE.

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them sing joyful praises forever.
Spread your protection over them,
that all who love your name may be filled with joy.
For you bless the godly, O Lord;
you surround them with your shield of love. – Psalm 5:11-12

God revealed the dream and its meaning to Daniel, who in turn gave God all the glory when he explained to the king why God was revealing this dream. Daniel in essence said – What you have asked is impossible, but nothing is impossible for God. God doesn’t have to explain this dream, but He has chosen to reveal the future to you because He wants you to understand what is in your heart (2:27-30).

Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men. At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court. – Daniel 2:48-49

Now these four young Jewish men in captivity were being entrusted with even more. These young men of excellence were faithful to God and God was enlarging their territory.

OPPORTUNITY & ADVANCEMENT WERE TWO OF RESULTS OF THEIR FAITH — OF THEIR EXCELLENCE.

What are you asking for today? Does your faith in God hinge on whether or not He answers your prayer your way? Prayer and praise — these two ingredients of Daniel’s faith are available to us. Are we prepared to praise God no matter how He answers our prayer? Do we trust the heart of God enough to trust His hand? Are we living out the excellence that God is producing within us?

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. – Philippians 1:11

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen. – 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13