I Have Done No Wrong

Warriors Arise: April 19, 2021

Daniel 6:21-22 (NKJV) 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 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.”

This can seem so arrogant. However, when God says that you are innocent then you are innocent. What Daniel did, what he said, is so hard for me to do. I get so tongue tied and can't say a thing. I have a difficult time representing myself. When someone has lied about me, I am devastated. I am not sure if it is what they said or that "they" said it. Then I battle with the heartbreak of the person accusing me, because I can't believe they think I said what they are saying or did what they think.

When I get accused like this, it crushes me from within. It literally knocks the breath right out of me. When the accusations have been made and in most cases others have already decided, what can I do? My mind races. It doesn't matter what I say they aren't going to believe me. It is my word against the other person's word. Since the other person has already spun the lies, what can I say that would reveal the truth. I don't think anything I will say will undo the damage.

Then there are times when I am not even asked to validate what they have just shared. But even if they did, I do not represent myself very well. I can defend others but with me, it's so personal. I can't believe they would think I would do or say what they are accusing me of. What good would come of it. If I keep my mouth shut at least I can take the blows and die quietly. If I open my mouth I may not be able to control the emotions rising up in me. So, I keep my mouth shut. But not Daniel.

Yes, things are different for Daniel. For one, he has spent all night with angels. Yes, they were keeping the mouths of the lions shut; however, I am pretty sure they were ministering to Daniel as well. When God makes this kind of a gesture, protecting you in the lions' den, you can know He is on your side. He is moving things and people into place for a finale no one was looking for.

Just like in Pslam 23, "Ye though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...He prepares a table for me before my enemies, He anoints my head with oil." When we are going through the valley of the shadow of death, we have difficulty seeing the table He has prepared for us. We do not see He is leading us to a place where He is going to anoint our head with oil. But Daniel, had spent all night in the lions' den with the angels holding the mouths of the lions shut. He knew what God had decided on this matter. He knew he was innocent before God, Darius, and the governors of the land.

Be encouraged God will meet you in the lions' den. He will speak the truth. If you need to repent, Holy Spirit will convict you of your wrong. Then go make things right. Humble yourself before God and apologize to those you wronged. However, if you did not do anything wrong then you do not need to apologize. Daniel did not apologize because he didn't do anything wrong. The decree would have never been written nor signed. The governors and satraps were wrong because they were trying to kill an innocent man, someone who had nothing wrong to them. From the moment the king heard the governors say he must enforce the decree he tried to find way out of it. When he couldn't do anything, he stayed up all night to faithfully plea for Daniel's life. Darius knew he was wrong to be enticed but spinning words of the other governors.

Darius stayed up all night. We do not know if he prayed to God but I believe he petitioned Daniel's God as an outsider. He didn't know Daniel's God but he knew how one would position himself to be heard. When the accusations come, the best place you can go is into the presence of God. Daniel went into the presence of God as soon as he heard the decree. He wasn't about to hide. I'm not sure he ever left the presence of God. From the time he prayed after hearing the decree, to waiting to be cast into the lions' den, and through the night, in the presence of the angels, I believe Daniel was praying.

Praying doesn't mean we are always talking. Praying should be us listening to what the Father is saying. Thank God for what He has done, is doing and will do. Make your requests known to God. Then listen. How many times did Jesus say, "Let those who have ears to hear." This includes in prayer.

God demonstrated Daniel's innocence by sending His angels to shut the mouths of the lions. Daniel's boldness to say, "O king, I have done no wrong before you." is due to the fact that he knew God's verdict, "I was found innocent." Those words are empowering. When God says you are innocent then stop wallowing in self-pity over the accusations of the enemy and those who chose to believe something other than what God has said. Don't give the enemy room to grow his lies in your mind for they will be a thistles choking out the fruit Holy Spirit has given you. Pull out those thistles and toss them into the fire and receive God's word, "I was found innocent."

Father, thank you for Your amazing love. Thank You for hearing my prayers. Thank You for speaking to me. Open my ears that I may hear what You are saying. I want to know the truth. I am thankful for the conviction of Holy Spirit. I am thankful He tells me the truth. When I have acted ungodly He shows me and I repent. When I have said ugly, ungodly things He reveals the danger of my words and I repent. Thank You for giving me the courage to humble myself before those I have wronged. I pray You would go back in my past and set the record straight. I ask for You to remove the things I have been falsely accused and restore what the enemy has stolen. I ask for You to pull out the thistles of lies spoken about me and establish me in Your perfect will for my life. I will surrender to You. I lay myself before You and when You say I am innocent I will not wallow in self-pity. When You say You have found no wrong then I will not allow the lies of the enemy to hold me back. I will declare that I am free of the accusations of the enemy and the lies will be revealed. I ask for You to come and bring life abundantly to me. When the truth is revealed and You have said I am innocent I will speak with honor and boldness to declare, I have done no wrong. It is not arrogance, it is the truth. You are my Judge. I will believe You and no other in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.