Today’s New Covenant nugget is from Daniel 6:21-22
Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”
In yesterday’s devotion we studied Jehoshaphat’s miracle… today we are going to look at the miracle of Daniel in the lions’ den…
Daniel had distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and even as a slave, the king planned to set him over his whole realm. So, the governors and satraps became jealous and started scheming up a way to jeopardize and kill Daniel.
Then they came up with a plan… they said, “We shall not find any charge against Daniel unless we find it against him concerning his relationship with his God.”
So, the evil governors and satraps went to the king, and said, “King Darius, all of us have come up with a plan together to honor you… a royal statute and a firm decree, that whoever prays to any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.” So King Darius signed the written decree.
When Daniel found out about the new law, he went home to in his upper room, and opened his windows wide open, and then knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed, worshipped and gave thanks to God.
Immediately the evil governors and satraps reported Daniel for violating the king’s decree. The king immediately knew that he had been tricked, but according to his own laws, he could not dismiss the charge against Daniel, and being very displeased with himself, gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.”
Then the king arose very early in the morning and rushed over to the den of lions and shouted, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” So Daniel was taken out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God. – Our God is a miracle working God!
The king then brought those men who had accused Daniel, and cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.
Then King Darius wrote, “To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders and miracles in heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”
So, Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
How did Daniel get his miracle when he desperately needed one? He would not comply or compromise when it came to his relationship with the Lord! He boldly defied the king’s orders, even though it could have potentially cost him his life, and openly worshipped and prayed, even though he broke the law in doing so.
When we pray, worship and gather as believers according to the Word, when we refuse to compromise, to comply or to bow to pressure, even when gathering together, praying together or worshipping together may be against the law… we set miracles in motion!
About a year ago, our friend Rodney Howard-Browne was arrested for meeting together with his church to pray, to worship, to distribute food and to sit under the Word. His boldness and his dedication to the Lord and his unwillingness to compromise or to comply to unscriptural, unconstitutional, discriminatory decrees set a miracle in motion for Rodney and for the whole country.
The Governor of Texas ruled that church was essential, several other Governors followed suit and soon, churches were allowed to gather all across the nation… since then the Lord has blessed pastor Rodney and his ministry with favor, thousands of souls, prosperity and a groundbreaking revival. Building are now being erected and his whole ministry is rapidly expanding in every way… glory be to God!
When you make a stand… when you refuse to bow, or to comply with anything that the devil tries to put on you… when you do what is right, and what is according to the Word, and what is according to faith, regardless of man’s decrees, laws, peer pressure and regardless of trends, and worldviews of those around you, you set miracles in motion, and you set yourself up for blessings, prosperity, favor and expansion.
How do we get a miracle when we really need one, like Daniel, do not compromise! Take a stand and do what is right, do what the Spirit leads and do what the Word says with your windows wide open… as you do, miracles will be set in motion!
In His amazing love, Nick
