Who’s In Your Council?

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭2‬:‭18

“He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.”

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Daniels three friends supported him throughout the course of his life. When Daniel was facing challenges, he shared his concerns with his friends and asked them to pray for him. God will often bring friends alongside of us to support us in our spiritual journey.

Prayer is one of the most important tools in the armoury of the righteous man, and the prophet Daniel is a wonderful example of a man of prayer. But if prayer is to be effective, it should come from a heart that is humble before the Lord, dependent upon Him, and ready to recognise that there is an ongoing need to approach the throne of grace in good times as well as in days of difficulty and danger.

Prayer should not only be a daily habit that delights the soul, but it should be the first thing to which we turn when we find ourselves facing insurmountable problems and impossible situations. Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, were men who discovered the importance of prayer at an early age. They took time every day, to come before the Lord to worship Him. They presented their daily requests to Him, and honored Him in their actions and attitudes.

When you’re asked to do something

thats impossible, you start by refusing to panic  and by getting all the facts. Then, you ask for

more time. Why? Because your biggest temptation in the midst of crisis is to be impulsive. Youre

typically not thinking rationally. You’re thinking emotionally. You want to make a quick decision.

But its more important to make the

right decision than a fast decision.  A wrong decision is wrong, no matter how quickly you make it. So step back, take a deep breath, calm down, and talk to God. Daniel did this when the king asked him to interpret a dream after the king ordered

the killing of the first few people who tried.

Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant. He gives us a great model for dealing

with a high-pressure situation by asking for more time and then talking to God about it.  You’re more likely to make a better decision when you dont rush to make a quick one.

This a powerful and inspiring verse that emphasizes the themes of prayer, reliance on God, the contrast between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God, unwavering faith in the face of adversity, and the ultimate victory of God's kingdom. It serves as a timeless reminder of the faithfulness and power of God, and the call for believers to trust in Him in all circumstances.

Think about the Christian sisters and brothers that God has brought into your life. Stay in close connection with them. Be deliberate it to carve out time to build on these friendships. Share your concerns and ask your friends to pray for you. Ask what their concerns are and pray for them. As followers of Jesus Christ we are all members of one family. The enemy would like to isolate us from one another; God wants us to stay in close connection!!!

Father, thank You for this day and that You are a God Who hears and answers the prayers and petitions of Your people. Lord, pour out Your abundant blessings from the storehouses of heaven over my friend and family today. Help us to cast all our cares on You and to bring all our problems and difficulties to You immediately, no matter how large or small they may be. Lord, help us to always turn to You first  when we are faced with tough problems, just like Daniel and his three friends. Thank You that nothing is too difficult for You to deal with, and we pray that we would always turn to you first, rather than trying to sort things out on our own. Lord, use us to be the touch of Your love to all today. Be a blessing.

Father, we love You. Amen !