In a Pickle

Warriors Arise: March 20, 2021

Daniel 6:11-15 (NKJV) 11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king's decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?”

The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” 14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”

Daniel found himself in a pickle of a situation, some might say stuck between a rock and a hard place.

There are times in our lives when our actions or words have cut so deeply we will never forget what we did or what we said. Kind of the flip from yesterday's blog where I shared about being able to forgive yourself. Not one of us was made perfect. Only Jesus and He is God. He never said or did anything wrong. However, for the rest of us, if Eve and Adam had not sinned, I don't think people would have been perfect through the years. If it did make it to 1972 then I am sure I would have been the first one to sin. When we read of the first sin committed in the Bible by Adam (being passive and not stepping in to protect his wife, clarify to Satan what God had said) and Eve (for not asking her husband to step in an speak to Satan), we can identify how sin creeps in and hijacks our lives! Things spin out of control until we seek God. Try as we might to make things right, they just won't be, until we seek God, repent for our sin, forgive ourselves, and seek God's way out.

Some may argue that Daniel sinned and maybe he did. He will have to answer to God for it, not me. Maybe he was praying as he had always done, but this time, asking God what he was to do. Daniel didn't cause a ruckus, he prayed, in his home. He did not pray for man to see, he prayed for God to hear. So, what do you do with these verses?

Romans 13:1-2 (NKJV) Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

Acts 5:29-32 (NKJV) But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

There comes a time when honoring God precedes being subject to authorities. Where all of the martyrs wrong for not denouncing Christ? They didn't do anything wrong. Yet, Nero and other kings burned them at the stake just because of their profession of following Jesus.

What if kids prayed in school, to themselves, as they are taking a test? Should they be suspended? I think it is quite odd that I had to listen to my classmates cuss all the time but it was offensive if I prayed to myself. They didn't keep their cussing to themselves. They took the Lord's name in vain. It was offensive to me. And yet, I was the ridiculed one because I asked them to stop cussing around me. My silent prayers, their outlandish cussing. Who is offending who? Daniel's prayers to God or the men plotting his demise. Who is in the wrong? I am not God, so I will leave the decision with Him. We must honor the authorities over us but when they ask us to do something that violates our relationship with God or what God has called us to do, then we turn to God. We allow the Spirit of God to teach us.

Thankfully, my life was never on the line because of my prayers. But, Daniel's was. He knew the decree said those who prayed to anyone other than King Darius would be thrown into the lion's den. He knew the men who devised the decree would be waiting and watching. They knew his schedule and they knew His faithfulness to God. He was in a pickle, stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Father, I invite You to come. There are situations in my life where I am challenged with putting our relationship in a more private place. Daniel could have shut the shutters but he didn't. Daniel could have prayed away from the open window but he didn't. Daniel would not alter his position before You nor would he hide his loyalty to You. I ask for have this same courage to be bold in my walk with You. I do not want what others do to try and silence my relationship with You to change it in anyway. I pray for a steadfast heart. I pray for my mind to be set on You. I pray for your kingdom to come and Your will to be done in my life, every day, every hour, every minutes. I ask to be bold in my relationship with You. I ask for courage to reach out to others who need a word of hope from You. I will not be silent when You position me to speak into their lives. I will not be crushed by the rock I will stand upon the Rock of my Salvation. I will know You and what You want me to do because I will see Your face and listen to Your voice. You are my God and there is 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.