I’ve recently been diving into the book of Daniel to study the amazing effects of what prayer and relationship with God.  Daniel has an amazing story that starts with being taken as a prisoner of war and ends up becoming the spiritual advisor to the nation that attacked Israel and seized him in the first place.  But his rise to power is what amazes me.

He starts to set himself apart immediately when he turns down the choice food of the king because it would essentially be defiling himself before God to eat what was “unclean.”  (Dan. 1:8)  The fact is that earlier in the book it says that the Babylonians took many young men, yet only Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stayed true to God even in the face of possible persecution.  You could already see the dedication on their part, which set them up for the blessings and insight that God would give them later.

Once King Nebuchadnezzar had his dream the table was already set; God knew who He could trust.  The king asked all of his wise men and astrologers to tell him what his dream was and what the interpretation was… all except Daniel.  Their answer was interesting to me in vs. 11, “What the kind asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men.”

They knew where the answer lied, but didn’t understand that God truly does live among men.  Their gods weren’t real and they hadn’t experienced what a real, living God can do!

Enter Daniel.

Daniel hears that the king is mad and is going to have all of his “wise men” killed.  At this he asked for time, and got his buddies (the same ones who would survive the fiery furnace 1 chapter later because of their unwavering faith) together to pray.  As you either already know, or can assume, God gives Daniel the dream and the interpretation.  But this isn’t the end of the story.  It’s the set-up to a more amazing one!

Upon arriving in front of the king, Daniel starts with this, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven…” (2:27-28)

Not for Daniel’s glory or advancement, but for the Kingdom of God!  Daniel got it. That is how he continued to grow in influence.  He knew he had no power, but as long as his life pointed to God, God would continue to use him.  Daniel continued to grow in stature and power in the kingdom, but only because he stayed in relationship with the only true power this world has and will ever know.

Today if you are at a point where you don’t have answers or are working hard by your own power, but are ending up frustrated let these words be encouragement to you…

We can do nothing, “but there is a God in heaven.”