Delivered- From the Power of the Lions

Dan 6:26-27
"I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he [is] the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end.
He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions."

I am not in any physical danger...no one physically seeks to harm me, but at times, in the midst of spiritual warfare I sometimes feel as though I were in danger. My thoughts are anxious ones, my body tenses, my heart feels strained, and my emotions follow my undisciplined thoughts down steep and treacherous slopes.

We are a simple family just trying train our children up in the Lord, serve faithfully in our church and walk closer to the Lord every day. We struggle and we fail sometimes, but we, by the Grace of God are moving forward never satisfied to sit still in our walk. There are times when trials come and, if I am not where I should be, it feels as if the flames of hell lick at my very soul tempting me to throw up my hands in frustration. Then I further complicate the situation when I discard the my sword of Truth and lash out instead with angry thoughts, words and actions. My tears of anger bear witness to a defeated spirit after the dust settles. Then, ashamed, as I cry out to God, I remember that these trials, these ravenous lions, don't define who I am in Christ. I was tricked...again. My response was the key to what was going on in my heart and told where my real faith stood. Try as I might, I will be defeated- in myself and, if I don't repent I am left open and vulnerable to a continued attack. It is during these times that I know my walk with God, my testimony, my ability to be used is in danger. If I am not filled with His Spirit daily I will not be victorious in my walk with or without trial.

The Lions come when I am right where I should be in my walk as well. The end result is much different when the Lord fights...He's already won and His Holy Spirit keeps me close to His victorious path. Sometimes the attack seems relentless and I fret wondering if perhaps I have erred in some way. Before I despair, I must remember that I am 100% justified, so why wouldn't there be lions sent from the evil one? Their very presence should cause me to rejoice in the Redeemer that lives in me. He has already witnessed the final defeat of the evil one. It is never flesh and blood that I am wrestling against, but the principalities of darkness, the Bible says. That is a horrifying fact for those who are not Saved! To those of us in Christ, it means that we must choose to respond to the Lions in our life victoriously! We must respond IN CHRIST -filled with HIS Spirit.

Does my response to trial consistantly reflect a solid belief that God is indeed my Lord and Saviour capable of victory in all circumstances? More often than I would like to confess, my response reflects a sense of doubt and impatience with the ways of the Lord which leads to defeat. In light of this, I am meditating upon these verses from Daniel today, as I sit here home from church with two children, sick *again* *sigh*. I want to be frustrated and downcast-in my flesh...for various reasons other than the two little sicklings, BUT, He has shut the mouth of the Lions! They are present, yes, intimidating, yes, but they have no power over me-the believer -hidden in Christ.

"He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions." I love how this is worded...He DELIVERETH and RESCUETH...and in the Believers life...we, like Daniel have been DELIVERED and RESCUED from the jaws of the Lions. Past tense...my battles are all won in Christ..all of them, but I must choose to WALK in that TRUTH. I must walk in a way that gives testimony to this fact. Thank you God for delivering me from the power of the lions...may I ever rejoice in my trials because you have already delivered and rescued me from their grip. Hallelujah, God is so good!