We all make choices each and every day. Do I wear the red or blue shirt to the office? Will I have water or sweet tea with lunch? Do I really need that piece of pie for dessert? It looks and smells so good! Our lives are filled with choices, but there is one choice that is guaranteed to release God’s power and blessings in our lives.
Psalms 119:30 and 173:
I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.
Throughout the centuries, God’s believing people have lived in many cultures, facing many challenging circumstances. Yet through them all, one choice has always brought success—choosing the way of truth. In the Old Testament, Daniel was a man who came to many crossroads and chose this way. His confident and courageous stand allowed God’s power to abound. The God Whom Daniel served is the God we serve today. As we observe the example of Daniel, think what blessings await us as we serve God. God’s abundance and power are ours as we choose the way of truth.
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, came Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, to Jerusalem. He besieged the city and took some of the people captive. Among those taken to Babylon was a young man named Daniel, along with his companions, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Nebuchadnezzar appointed those taken captive a daily provision of food and wine to nourish them. These provisions, along with other training, were to prepare them to serve in the king’s palace.
Daniel 1:8:
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
In the law of Moses, God’s Word to the children of Israel, there were certain animals that were forbidden as food sources. Knowledgeable of God’s Word, Daniel purposed in his heart, the innermost part of his mind, to live according to the Word.
God blessed Daniel and his companions by bringing them into favor with the prince of the eunuchs, who allowed them to be nourished according to the precepts of God’s Word. God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom. Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. These men gained great spiritual perception and awareness by choosing the way of truth.
Daniel 1:18-20:
Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah [Shadrach], Mishael [Meshach], and Azariah [Abednego]: therefore stood they before the king.
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
Daniel’s choice to live the Word’s way released God’s abundant blessings not only for him, but also for his companions, who chose the way of truth as well. In all matters of wisdom and understanding, King Nebuchadnezzar found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers in his realm. Now, that’s abundant! Like Daniel, we can hide God’s Word in our hearts to the end that we choose to live according to God’s Word, the way of truth, in various life situations. How big will God’s blessings be for us as we choose to live the way of truth? His Word says He is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20).
One night Nebuchadnezzar had a very unsettling dream. When he awoke, he could not remember the dream and was deeply troubled to know the dream and its meaning. He called together the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans of his kingdom and demanded that they would make known to him the dream and the interpretation. What kind of a request was this that the king required of the wise men in his kingdom? An impossible request! There was not a man upon the earth who could fulfill this request, and that is what they told the king. The king in his anger commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. The decree that went forth to slay all the wise men included Daniel and his companions.
Daniel 2:17 and 18:
Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah [Shadrach], Mishael [Meshach], and Azariah [Abednego], his companions:
That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
What did Daniel do? He sought out the believing support of his companions. Knowing that the answer to the king’s matter would not come from a man and that their lives were on the line, Daniel and his companions courageously stood together in petitioning God for the answer needed in this predicament. They believed together for the solution to this very stressful situation.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12:
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Their bold, confident stand together allowed the power of God to abound. God revealed to Daniel the king’s dream and the interpretation of it. Can you imagine how blessed and thankful Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego must have been? What an awesome God we have!
Daniel 2:19-23:
Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.
Having the answer to the king’s matter, Daniel went in unto King Nebuchadnezzar and confidently declared unto him the dream and the interpretation as God had revealed it to him. The king immediately recognized the power of God at work.
Daniel 2:47-49:
The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.
Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
Daniel’s bold believing action, together with that of his companions, allowed the power of God to be made manifest in this tremendously stressful situation. The mighty blessings of God abounded in their lives to the end that they were put into great positions of authority and service in the province of Babylon.
Daniel served under several different kings in Babylon, and with each one, he chose the way of truth, thus unleashing the power and blessings of God for himself and others.
Daniel 5:11 and 12:
There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel….
Daniel continued to grow in his knowledge and understanding of the way of truth throughout his life. His courageous choices and his bold, confident stand allowed the power of God to be manifested and God’s blessings to abound. We grow in our knowledge of God’s Word by hiding it deep within our hearts. As we make courageous choices to live the way of truth, we too will see the power of God manifested and His blessings abounding in our lives.
Years later, when the Medes and Persians took over the Babylonian Empire, Daniel retained the high position he had held under the Babylonians. Daniel served under King Darius the Median (Daniel 5:31), who set one hundred twenty princes over his kingdom. Over these princes he set three presidents, of whom Daniel was first. Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes because an excellent spirit was in him, and King Darius thought to set him over the whole realm.
Not liking the king’s choice of leadership, Daniel’s peers—the other princes and presidents—sought to find grounds of accusation or to bring charges against him concerning his conduct in carrying out his duties in the kingdom. But they couldn’t find any evidence of corruption, nor could they find anything to criticize or condemn.
Daniel had chosen the way of truth. He was trustworthy and faithful in carrying out his responsibilities with respect to his management of the governmental affairs in the kingdom of Darius. Not a single instance of negligence or faulty administration could be found.
Seeing that Daniel was faithful with no fault or suspicion found in him, these other princes and presidents concluded that they would not find any occasion against this Daniel except they find it against him concerning the law of his God. They agreed together, then convinced King Darius to establish a royal statute that for the next thirty days whoever asked a petition of, or prayed to, any god or man except of the king would be cast into the den of lions. According to the laws of their kingdom, once the decree was signed, it could not be altered or changed by anyone, including the king himself. The king signed the decree.
Daniel 6:10:
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
Undaunted by the signed writing, Daniel purposed in his heart to live the Word’s way by praying and giving thanks before his God as he always had done—three times daily. Prayer was how he had gotten the answers to previous dilemmas; he was a man of prayer. Choosing to live the way of truth could now cost Daniel his life. He would be cast into the lions’ den if, in the next thirty days, he was caught praying.
Daniel 6:11-13:
Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, 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 altereth not.
Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
The king upon hearing this was sorely displeased with himself. This man, Daniel, who had served him faithfully, totally exemplary and trustworthy, was now to be cast into the den of lions. The king labored all day till the going down of the sun to deliver Daniel. However, these other princes and presidents reminded him that no decree that the king established could be changed. Even though King Darius was obligated to carry out the sentence, he confidently reminded Daniel that his God, Whom he served continually, would deliver him.
Daniel 6:16 and 17:
Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
This is very interesting. King Darius, in the midst of carrying out this apparent death sentence against Daniel, reminded him that his God would deliver him. Do you think the king knew this because Daniel in previous conversations with the king told him about the power and blessings of his God? Maybe King Darius read in the journals of those who ruled before him of the great power and blessings of God unleashed as Daniel believed God under their reigns. Perhaps King Darius had an opportunity to see firsthand the power of God in manifestation! Well, if he had not had the opportunity previously, he was about to.
Daniel 6:19-23:
Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
Daniel was a servant of the living God. He chose the way of truth, keeping God first in his prayer life. His bold stand allowed God’s power to abound. God delivered Daniel by sending His angel to shut the lions’ mouths. No manner of hurt was found upon him because he believed in his God. The king was exceedingly glad.
Following this incident, King Darius made another decree declaring that in every dominion of his kingdom men should worship and reverence the God of Daniel, for He is the living God. King Darius went on to declare that Daniel’s God delivers, rescues, and works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth. The king declared to everyone under his rule that the living God delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. He was witness to the power of God unleashed!
In the Old Testament example of Daniel, we have observed how he faced many challenges. In each challenge, he chose the Word’s way—the way of truth. His bold stand allowed God’s power and blessings to abound not only to him but also to others around him.
In our lives, we too may encounter challenging circumstances in which choices need to be made. The one choice that is guaranteed to release God’s power and blessings in our lives and to those around us is to choose the way of truth—so let’s choose it!
Psalms 119:30 and 173:
I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.
This is a reprint from the January/February 2012 issue of The Way Magazine.
Copyright© 2012 by The Way International. All rights reserved.
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