Hi how are you all today? I am well but hot. My corner of the country is under an extreme heatwave. Tomorrow it is meant to be 37 degrees C or 98 degrees F with high humidity meaning the feel of the temperature will be hotter. I will be glad when it cools down a bit.
This week I want to keep with our word for 2024 which is reimagining. I want to concentrate on reimagining you and I. You might say, why? I believe many of us are stuck with words spoken over our lives from many years ago. These words are on repeat and those words are no longer true, if they ever were, but they are shaping us still now. It is time to defeat their power over our lives.
To do that, I want to look at the life of Daniel. When we read through this book, we may miss some strategic words that were said over and over about and to him across the course of his whole life. But it is what Daniel chose to do where I think we can also follow his example.
Let’s start in chapter 1 of Daniel where the scene is set which lays the foundation of his life. Daniel was a teenager taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar. In verse 4, the king chose men with certain qualities to be trained in the Babylonian way – language, literature and customs. Daniel and three friends were amongst those chosen.
At the end of three years, the king interviewed them and this is what the Bible states in verses 17 to 19 in the Message Bible:
God gave these four young men knowledge and skill in both books and life. In addition, Daniel was gifted in understanding all sorts of visions and dreams. At the end of the time set by the king for their training, the head of the royal staff brought them in to Nebuchadnezzar. When the king interviewed them, he found them far superior to all the other young men. None were a match for Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
Wow they were far above the others so it seemed the king would treat them well.
In chapter 2, the king had a dream and nobody he considered wise in his kingdom could help him. He didn’t call Daniel and his friends at all. They had to find out and then approach the king themselves.
But it is interesting how Daniel was described to the king in verse 25 in the NKJV:
I have found a man of the captives of Judah.
What? Hadn’t Daniel been working for the king and in his employ for a number of years. Yes – but he was still referred to in relation to his past.
But what did Daniel do? Did he get offended? No, he just assisted the king. He actually totally ignored the comment.
The same thing happened to him in chapter 5, this time under King Belshazzar . Writing appeared on the wall and nobody could interpret it. The Queen told her son Daniel could help. The king addressed Daniel in verse 13 in the NKJV:
Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives of Judah.
Again Daniel ignored the comment.
Then again in chapter 6, a decree was set and Daniel disobeyed it and was cast into the lions den. His accusers said this about him in verse 13 in the NK JV:
That Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah.
Daniel’s past never left him so how did he overcome it and walk in victory? He knew who he was in God. He knew he had been called by God to walk with Him, do his work diligently and assist the king, where required. He never deviated from who God said he was.
We should do the same. When people bring up our past, let’s ignore their words. That might have been who we once were but it is no longer who we are.
We are a son or daughter of God who is saved, healed delivered and set free by Jesus. We are children of God walking right before God and totally loved by Him.
If you are struggling with this, reimagine your life based on the above. Then go live it walking with God every step of the way. You can do it!
Bless you and keep living the life God intended for you.
Karen
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