Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Monday, September 10, 2018

"So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lion's den. The king said to Daniel, 'May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!'"¹

Most of us will be familiar with the story of how Daniel, supposedly because of his religious beliefs, was thrown into a den of hungry lions. No question, Daniel got a dirty deal. He was set up by jealous lesser men who wanted him out of the way. It seemed as if they were about to succeed except for one thing: They overlooked Daniel's trust in God.

The interesting thing, however, about Daniel being thrown into the den of lions is that God didn't deliver him out of the den before Daniel first found deliverance in it.

Imagine if Daniel had fought against being thrown into the den (which he would have been justified in doing), and gone into the den fighting against it every inch of the way. Chances are that the lions would have torn him to pieces before he hit the floor of the den. But Daniel didn't struggle. He accepted his lot, and trusted his life to God who shut the lion's mouths.

On more than one occasion when in a very frustrating situation, I have asked God that if I am not going to be delivered out of my "lion's den," would he please help me find deliverance in it.

Sometimes God has a lesson for us to learn through a difficult situation, and before he delivers us out of it, like Daniel, he delivers us in it. It is also important not to base our beliefs and actions on the way we feel. Keep in mind that it is the Word of God, the Bible, which is our final voice of authorityâ€"not the way that we feel. We need to find deliverance in it. The good news is that once we learn the needed lesson, we don't have to go through the same experience again.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, regardless of my feelings and my circumstances, I choose to trust my life to you in the frustrating situation in which I find myself at this time. And like the father whose child had a dumb spirit said to you, I also say, 'Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief.' Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Daniel 6:16 (NIV).

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