God’s Power Maximized In Us

“Out of the lion’s den for Daniel, the prison for Peter, then whale’s belly for Jonah, Goliath’s shadow for David, the storm for the disciples, disease for the lepers, doubt for Thomas, the grave for Lazarus, and the shackles for Paul, God gets us through stuff.”

- Max Lucado

In Daniel 6, Daniel continues to pray even after a decree is given prohibiting all prayer but prayer to the King of Babylon. But Daniel trusts that God will bring Him through it, and is determined to remain faithful to Him regardless of the circumstances or the consequences.

As a result, Daniel is thrown into the lion’s den, where God rescues him by shutting the mouths of the lions.

When morning came, and King Darius saw firsthand that God had saved Daniel, he was overjoyed and had Daniel lifted from the den. Furthermore, the king was so angry with those who had sought to entrap Daniel, he ordered them to be thrown into the lion’s den. The lions did not hesitate and immediately overpowered and crushed them.

Because of Daniel’s faithfulness, not only did God save him, but the king set out a new decree that everyone in his kingdom must revere Daniel’s God.

He declared, “For he is the living God

   and he endures forever;

his kingdom will not be destroyed,

   his dominion will never end.

He rescues and he saves;

   he performs signs and wonders

   in the heavens and on the earth.

He has rescued Daniel

   from the power of the lions.”

- Daniel 6:26-27

In addition to the new decree, Daniel himself was elevated in the kingdom and prospered.

As Max Lucado wrote, “God gets us through stuff,” and when He does, He is glorified, and we come out better and stronger on the other side.

We can find encouragement and confidence in this, trusting God’s plans to come to fruition. All we have to do is do our part, to be faithful to Him and that which He calls us to do.

Native American Pastor, Brocc Chavis, Director of the UPCI Multicultural Ministries, in addressing their approach to evangelizing diverse cultures in America, put it this way,

“We’re not even trying to avoid the lion’s den, we’re running TOWARD the lion’s den! Because when you’re in position with God, the lion’s den just becomes another place for God’s power to be maximized in you.”

May we be a people of God who run toward the lion’s den, that God’s power will be maximized in us.

Pastor Ken

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