Week 2 - Listen & Learn | Day 8

SCRIPTURE - DANIEL 2:17-28

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. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.” Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.” Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.” The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?” Daniel replied, “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 who reveals mysteries.

OBSERVATION

After Babylon took Israel captive, King Nebuchadnezzar appointed some of Israel’s wisest young men to serve as his advisors. Daniel and his friends were among them, and their success quickly made them valuable to the king. But one day, Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream and demanded that his wise men interpret it. When none of them could, he ordered that they all be put to death. In this moment, it would have been easy for Daniel to panic and despair. But instead, he gathers his friends, explains the situation, and they pray together. Daniel believed, even in an impossible situation, that God could still speak. Rather than giving in to fear, he chose to listen with faith that God would reveal what he needed to know. During the night, God answered. With certainty that he had heard from God, Daniel responded with worship. God had revealed the mysteries that no magician, sorcerer, or wise man could understand. With that confidence, Daniel approached the king and declared the truth he had been holding onto the whole time: “there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.” God's voice brings answers where it seems like there are none, light to where there is darkness, and hope to those who listen for Him. Listening to God begins with believing that God truly speaks.

APPLICATION

Maybe you’ve stopped listening for God’s voice because you’ve stopped believing that you can hear from Him. Today, have faith that God can and will speak to you when you listen. Just like Daniel, keep praying with an expectation that God will give you the answer you need.  Before Daniel received an answer, he gathered his closest friends to pray with him. He knew he didn’t have to seek God alone. In the same way, your church family wants to pray with you about whatever you're facing. When you come to the altar for prayer, fill out a prayer card, or share your burdens in a small group, the family of God joins you in lifting up your needs to Him. There’s power in multiple people praying in the same direction. When Daniel faced a crisis, his first response was to seek a word from the Lord. God wants to speak to us today just as He did then. When we learn to listen for His voice, there is no battle we will face this year that He won’t equip us for.

PRAYER

Today, if you need an answer or a word from God, ask Him to help you hear His voice. Spend a few quiet moments listening for Him and believing that He will speak. Pray that He would grow your faith and help you trust Him to give clarity and wisdom in His timing. 

God, thank you that you still speak today. Help me believe that I can hear from you about whatever I face. As I learn to listen for your voice, I ask that you would speak clearly. Give me the peace and confidence that comes from hearing from you. Amen.

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