Let's Dive Into Daniel
I’ve read a lot of blogs, posts, & books about how to study the Bible. What I have found is that there is no right or wrong way. You have to find what works for you. I’ve recognized that I will open my Bible to read and there will be highlighted sections + notes that I don’t even remember writing. How is that possible, right? I will be the first to admit that I have struggled staying consistent with my daily reading. I also realized I never stopped prior to pray and ask God to open my mind and heart to what He wanted to teach me. As I have been more consistent with my reading of the Word + asked God to teach me and help me understand + retain what I’m reading each day, I’ve noticed a notable change. I’m coming into His presence ready to learn and desiring to just delight in His Words. It’s not about putting a checkmark beside “read my Bible” on my to-do list anymore (which we all know is satisfying lol). I crave that time and get excited to read, but that took me praying for that and spending time with Him to get to this point. My first piece of advice is to spend time in prayer. Make your desires to learn more about Him and understand His teachings known to Him. Yes He knows, but He wants to hear from us. We are His children and He wants to be in relationship with us which involves communication.
The first thing I wanted to do when starting to dive into the book of Daniel was to learn the history behind the book – who wrote it, why it was written, when it was written, etc. This is something I failed to do in the past, but I’ve learned it is SO important to know so that you can get the best interpretation of why God is telling us what He is. There are so many journals you can purchase to help guide you as you dig deeper, but let me tell you that it’s not about the journal. I have a library of them, but it doesn’t take a fancy journal to retain what God is speaking to you.
There are different ways to study your Bible. What I feel has been helpful is reading the book through it’s entirety when possible, and then starting from the beginning and digging deeper slowly. That is what I am doing with this book.
Chapter 1 Takeaway
As I read through chapter one, I saw a young boy of royal descent’s life get completely turned upside down. His city of Judah sieged and Daniel along with 3 of his friends were taken to Babylon. Daniel knew where his heart and loyalty lied and that was with God. When taken to Babylon under the king, he didn’t change his beliefs and conform to their habits. He remained faithful and confident in God. Something that stuck out to me was how Daniel was new to this area, and yet he had the boldness to stand up and ask for different food + drink than was appointed to him from the king. I know I get nervous sometimes just telling friends I don’t want to do something, much less if it were a king’s guard in another country that I was taken captive in. Am I right? He knew if he trusted God and stayed true to Him that God would protect him, and He did.
Reading this chapter I see how God ordained every single step that Daniel took. For example, who he talked to and how he talked to them about the food and drink they were given. Daniel didn’t partake in what Babylon’s people saw as “good” meat and wine. Instead he asked for vegetables and water. God didn’t make Daniel and his friends keep up to par with the others. Instead, when evaluated by the king, Daniel and his friends were 10x BETTER than the others! So tell me our God isn’t mighty and generous!
You see just in chapter one I see how devoted faithfulness to the one true God may not allow us to bypass unfortunate circumstances, but what I see is that our God is faithful and sovereign. He will protect His people through every trial. We will witness that over and over throughout the first six chapters. We can’t see the future and we don’t know God’s plan for us, but we have to trust that no matter what God will turn it around for the good of those who put their hope and trust in him according to His will. I believe that, and that is the only thing that helps me keep going when my heart and mind want to break. This world is not our home. He has prepared a place for us to live eternally with Him in Heaven, and that is worth placing my hope and trust in Him.
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