Approaching God
Our God is the one who spoke existence into being, who brought light into the dark, and brought order to chaos. Before our God created Earth, animals, humans and you, He had a plan in place. Think about the God who created you and His plan for you as you look at this verse.
“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:16)
In Daniel chapter 1, Daniel was stripped from his home, family, language, literature, and name. He was taught the Babylonian language and literature and was given a Babylonian name. This happened to him rather quickly. It would’ve been easy to question whether God was in control.
Listening to God
But everything God created was with purpose. Some we have discovered and some we have yet to discover. Listen as Paul articulates part of your purpose:
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.” (Ephesians 1:4-5)
Our God is one who is in control. We are not left to ourselves to make sense of this world or find our purpose.
Talking to God
We have seen that God numbered our days even before one began, and that He chose us to be holy and blameless. But how do we respond when it feels like everything is against us? King Nebuchadnezzar wanted an interpretation of his dream and was going to kill all the wise men if no one could deliver one.
“Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him. Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision.” (Daniel 2:16-19a)
Responding to God
Daniel went to his friends for support, encouragement—and mostly prayer. Together they pleaded with God to give them wisdom. Have you ever experienced the power of God’s presence in the unity of other believers through prayer? Think about what you might be up against right now, you know God is control and has a purpose for you, but what if you unified with other believers to plead together for His wisdom?
Surrendering to God
“God, I know you are in control and that you have numbered my days and given me a purpose. I am trying to find joy amidst this trial that I am facing, and I know that your word promises that if any lack wisdom let them ask you and you are faithful and willing to give it to them. Will you give me wisdom now? Help me to trust that you are in control.”
By Kirk Kingsley
