God Wants My Complete Trust (Part 3)

Have you ever been falsely accused?  When you first heard the accusation did you ignore it and never give a second thought?  Yes, everyone of us have been falsely accused.  Even Jesus Himself Jesus was the prime recipient to false lies and accusations.  And no, it is not our human nature to simply forget and ignore when our character has been attacked.  Our tendency is to react and do all we can to make the wrong right.  Yet, there will be times in the life of a Christian where "making things right" is out of our hands.  So we are then faced with a decision, can we trust God with the "out of control" part of our lives?  We have been looking at the prophet Daniel  and learning that the God of the Bible wants His children to completely trust in Him no matter the outward circumstance.  Daniel has been set up by his jealous co-workers, and in the process, his character has been attacked to make him out to be a traitor.  Even though the record shows Daniel to be a faithful citizen of Babylon, he is more loyal to Jehovah God.  So Daniel chooses to leave the outcome of this crisis quietly in the hands of his God, rather than vocally bring attention to himself.

Note how Daniel conducted himself (Daniel 6:10-15;24):  First, Daniel knew the rules, and still prayed.  To change his worship style, routine, and time, would have been an act of unbelief and cowardice.  He did not scheme around the laws of the land, he sought to continue to honor God through his actions of faithful prayer.  Second, Daniel knew the danger, and still prayed.  He realized that anyone caught praying would be killed, but his faith in God mirrored his three friends, a faith in a God who is able to deliver.  And third, Daniel knew the Father, and continued to pray faithfully.  When one has a personal relationship and walk with the Heavenly Father, no matter the outward storm and accusations, God's children can walk in peace.  God's Word promises, that God will keep His children in perfect peace whose minds are focused on trusting in Him completely (Is. 26:3).  With a God this strong, how can we not have a less stressed life.  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.       

God Wants My Complete Trust (Part 2)

In Daniel 6, the prophet Daniel is helping us answer the following question, "How far an I trust God with my life?"  He is not answering this question on a game show or in a debate, but rather in his every day life.  Daniel is facing certain death because of his complete trust in God.  Laws have been voted and passed, and decrees have been issued to stop Daniel and others from praying to any god, including Jehovah God.  Daniel could have rationalized his situation and decided to be more private and quiet with his "relationship with God" until the storm blew over; but Daniel had a deeper confidence in His God, a God able to care and protect for all His children.  So last week we saw that when Daniel was attacked, he continued to trust in God.  The next condition that Daniel found himself facing was one of loneliness.

All the men that were jealous of Daniel, those who had turned their backs against him, were co-workers with  Daniel.  No, they probably did not hang out after each shift, but never the less they were people that Daniel knew, and maybe had a working relationship with.  It could also be implied that Daniel may have had friends who would pray with him, but now out of fear, have left him to pray alone.  We only read of Daniel being thrown into the lion's den, but was Daniel the only man of faith and prayer in Babylon, among the Jewish people?  And last, it is clear from this passage that Daniel and King Darius had a close relationship.  Yet in a moment of pride and deception, King Darius is swayed over to the "dark side", leaving Daniel alone.  It is in our lonely days in which our faith and trust in God will be greatly weakened or strengthened.  The truth for all Christians is they we are never alone when they trust completely in Christ.  In Psalms 56, we read that while  David was facing fear and loneliness, he was bold to declare, "In God I have put my trust;".  If you and I will will make the commitment to trust God complete, even when we are alone, then we will have a less stressful life.  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.