Continuing today with the Book of Daniel we witness Daniel continually defeating all the distractions that tried to remove his focus off of God. While the Book of Daniel is filled with distractions I want to bring the key distractions to your attention. · Daniel had to be enduring jealously from some of the children of Judah. (This is not written in the Word but I can imagine this scenario.) There is always someone that becomes jealous of another receiving favor. I can see all the gossiping going on behind David’s by his own people. “He thinks he’s better than us. Won’t eat the King’s food. Who does he think he is?” Can you see that? · Daniel had enemies that were scheming behind his back that were not of the tribe of Judah. (Daniel 6:7) “All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.” · Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den. Daniel 6:10-14, " 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. 11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 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. 13 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. 14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.” My God! I see nothing but distractions. But Daniel kept his eyes on God. He refused to look at everything that was going on around him. Once again he refused to compromise! Oh that we would have a spirit like Daniel. Tossed into the lion’s den and still held his focus. No screaming for help from Daniel. He kept his focus and trusted God to save him. Today if you are in the midst of the lion’s den, stay focus and keep all your trust in God, for as He did with Daniel, so shall He do for you. Keep your eyes on God! Evangelist Cheryl Davies (Fear Not Ministries) (www.fearnotministries.com)
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Distractions are something that every believer must contend with and learn how to defeat so that they will keep their focus on the Lord. We can learn a lot from Daniel if we pay close attention. He faced many distractions just as we do, but He knew that to give in would change his life. He belonged to God and wanted to keep it that way.
Daniel 1:4-17 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were so focused on God that they did not allow themselves to partake of the defiled food that the king offered them. Can you imagine what kind of distractions surrounded them? They were not the only children of Judah in the household, BUT they were the only ones that did not give in to the distractions. Now let’s think about this. • The Bible did not say that they were on a fast. • The smell of a lot of meat and other tempting aromas were assaulting them every day and almost all day. • and if the others were eating, don’t you think they were pressuring them to eat too. • The eunuchs were also pressuring them to eat of the meat. They were pressuring them to eat because they were afraid that if these boys began to lose weight or get sick then their life would be in danger because they were the Kings property. (vs. 10) Lose their heads. • The 4 decided that they would not eat the food because it had been offered to false gods and therefore it was defiled. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah made a choice and stuck by it. They made a choice not to give in to all the distractions they faced daily. They decided not to compromise what they knew to be true. No matter what the cost. Even if it meant their lives. "12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.”" For the 4 boys this was a true test of their faith. A test of where their focus laid. And because they did not give into all the distractions around them God blessed them with many gifts. "17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams." We must keep our focus on God at all times to keep us from making unnecessary detours in our walk. Eyes on Jesus! So stop looking at the situation like it's going to pull you down. Keeping your eyes and thoughts on Jesus will bring you favor and bring you through. Tell yourselves that it is just a distraction and then begin to adjust your vision. We must stay focused on God and His plan for our lives. Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies Do you fight with feelings of being inadequate? The enemy within me. This is a fight within and the hardest battle to defeat. Am I living up to my full potential? Am I being obedient to God? I messed up once again. God said that he forgives me, but so He really? These are questions that we all ask ourselves at one time or another. I want you to know that this isn't you. This is words whispered at your mind. Thoughts that entered through the suggestions of the enemy because he knows that if he can make you fill guilty, he has a chance of persuading you to take that step out of alignment with God. If you beat yourself up it opens the door for him to beat you down even more. Just stop it. That's right. Stop them thoughts the minute they begin. Begin to take on the thoughts of God. Does He not say in His Word: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11) God's thoughts for us never change. He knows us better than we know ourselves so let's begin to see ourselves as God sees us. We have to stop listening to the report that does not belong to God. When those thoughts enter your mind begin to cast them out immediately. And if you begin to feel you are losing the battle in your mind, then you better go up. Use your spirit language because our spirit knows how battle even better than you. Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies (Fear Not Ministries) A few years back I was fighting several personal battles. It seemed like I was being bombarded by the enemy. But battle I did. As in the natural, when we battle for too long we become battle weary. I was tired of battling but it got to the point where I did not know how to come off the battlefield. It began to become a burden to me. I felt drained all the time. Couldn't sleep because I was waging war in my sleep. I was not just fighting personal battles, I was battling for others as well and I had not learned how to come off of the battlefield. Up until this point I had only fought 1 or 2 battles at a time. But in order to become what God has called you to be takes training and training goes from the easy to the extreme. This still did not tell me how to come out of the battle or that I needed to come off the battlefield. Our Father, God always knows what we need and so He sent me to someone that could help me. Her name was Pastor Rita Miles and the first thing out of her mouth when she spoke to me was, "Battlefield too long." There was other key words that she spoke to me but when God speaks to me I have to get to a place where it's just me and Him. So I went and found a quiet place and began to speak to the Lord. I told Him that I knew I had been in battle too long and that I had become battle weary. I didn't know how to come out of the battle, and that only He could help me come out. God softly spoke one word to me and my life was changed. What was that word? "Release." And with that word spoken, all tension left, all fatigue left, and I was free from the battles just like that. Now here's the thing. I was so caught up in the battle that my face was covered in spiritual sweat and blood and I could no longer see. I could no longer see that the enemy had been defeated. I could no longer see that the battlefield was empty and only I stood, swinging away at invisible foes. You must see when you have won the victory and stop battling. There is always a time when we must come off the battlefield. Do not let the enemy deceive you into thinking that you still have to fight after the battle has already been won. Sometimes also the enemy must see that he has been defeated. If you are still swinging and he's beaten, even he won't know that the fight is over and it's time for him to give up. As intercessors we have to learn how to sometimes come off of the battleground. As Christians we have to know when to stop fighting. When you have won, the battle is over and sometimes it just takes you walking it off to cool down before you can see that all your foes have been vanquished and that you can now begin to walk in the victory. This does not mean that there will not be other battles, but you must always know when the battle you have been fighting is won and come off of the battlefield. To God be the GLORY! Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies (Fear Not Ministries) Today I was totally under the favor of God. Psalm 44:3 "For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them." (NKJ) From morning I have been declaring His favor and I was really in the midst of it! Only the front parking space for me today. And then... I lost my cell phone in Target Store. (For those of you not living in America, Target is a big store where you can buy anything from food to clothing to sporting goods.) The whole family was searching for it when we got home. I continued to call forth God's favor. My daughter,Melissa began to call it repeatedly. Finally I called Target Store with her phone and while I was on the phone a call came in. I looked and it was "my number". I answered praising God and the girl told me that her mother had found my phone and gave it to her asking her to help the lady get her phone back. FAVORRRRRRRRRR! Glory to God for His favor. When you are walking in the favor of God, even your own mistakes cannot hinder you! Begin to declare God's favor upon you everyday. As His people we should always be walking in His favor and I want this not only for myself, but I want it for you even more! Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies ( Fear Not Ministries ) |
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