You can change the heart of a king

While reading the story of Daniel yesterday morning with my children, my heart was challenged by the Holy Spirit. I want to share with you what He laid on my heart.

Have faith

When Daniel and 3 other Hebrew children were brought to live at the palace of Nebuchadnezzar, they no doubt knew they were going to face some challenges. These children had been taught God’s law and scripture since they were born. Undoubtedly their parents had let them know when this king was “elected”, or when he took over the presidency…or…kingdom rule… that he was going to be bad news for God’s children. Now they found themselves living in his house, relying on him for their food and shelter.

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself…

Daniel 1:8

No matter the circumstances

The environment this ungodly king created for these Hebrew children to live in went against God completely. (Does any of this sound familiar yet?) Yet Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the things the king set in place for them. He wasn’t the only one. His three friends must have done the same. (You are not alone, Christian friend! Others of us are with you, speaking out against what’s wrong. Sharing the truth.)

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold…commanded…that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp…ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:1-6

Stand up for what is right

Despite the order from the king, we know from scripture that these three Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to this idol, as the king had commanded. They even had the guts (faith) to say out loud to the king’s face that they were going to trust God to deliver them from the fiery furnace they had been threatened with, AND from the tyrannical rule the king was trying to have over their lives.

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

Daniel 3:17

God can do great things with a Christian who takes a stand

We know the story goes on that the 3 Hebrew boys were bound and thrown into a fiery furnace. When the king looked into the flames, he saw 4 men walking around, unburned, unfazed by what was happening to them. Who was the 4th man the king saw? It was Jesus. The king knew. He told others who it was that he saw. He even gave God glory and credit for what happened…or…didn’t happen with these Hebrew boys. The king had them removed from the flames, and later had another miraculous encounter involving Daniel, where he acknowledges the hand of God moving in his life. Finally, in chapter 4 of Daniel, we see King Nebuchadnezzar suffer the judgement of God and then seemingly repent of his wicked ways. All because of the stand of 4 Hebrew children.

Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Daniel 4:37

Imagine the possibilities!

Can you imagine what could be possible, if all the Christians in our world stood up and spoke out for what is right? What if we had faith in God like these 4 children? Have you purposed in your heart that you will not defile yourself with the king’s rules and laws, no matter the consequences? The time may soon come when you have to draw the “line in the sand”, so to speak. Will it be a pencil line? Will you continue to change your position on a matter depending on the consequences? God help us to have faith like Daniel.

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it withersoever he will.

Proverbs 21:1

*The word purposed in Daniel 1:8 means “to decide, followed by steadfast actions”. Daniel decided some things in his life, long before he had to put them into action. Have you decided to follow Jesus? Have you acted on that decision yet?

This song is one of my favorites. Give it a listen when you can. It will put some “pep in your step” where this subject is concerned!