1 TIMOTHY 3:16-17

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us...God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work."

Sunday, May 1, 2011

DANIEL - Behind the Scenes

Have you ever gone to a play?

I love to go to plays. I'm fascinated by them. I love the stories, I love the characters, I love the costumes and the makeup and the sets – I guess because I really love make-believe.

I just love watching all the action onstage.

But, for everything that I see happening in front of me, there's so much more going on backstage.

I know – I've acted in a play. And believe me, there is important activity going on behind the scenes – activity the audience is totally unaware of.

It's the same way in our own lives.

We're living our lives – lives that we can feel and see and know. And yet, there is important activity going on behind the scenes. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that there is a real, active, vibrant, important spiritual realm – and we play a key role in it.

Today’s "Bible Pick 'Ems" reminded me of this truth.

Picture it as a play –

The setting is the Kingdom of Persia. One of the characters is King Cyrus. It's the third year of his reign. The main character is Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar. He's the hero, if you will.

He has had another vision – a vision that concerned events certain to happen in the future –times of war and great hardship.

The date is April 23, and Daniel is standing on the bank of the Tigris River.

(That's the backdrop…)

All of a sudden, he looks up and sees a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold. His body looks like a precious gem. His face flashes like lightning, and his eyes flame like torches. His arms and feet shine like polished bronze, and his voice roars like a vast multitude of people.

(Cue the bright spotlight…)

Daniel's strength leaves him – his face grows deathly pale – and he feels very weak.

Then the man speaks:

"Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you." (Daniel 10:11)

(Cue Daniel…)

Daniel stands.

"Don't be afraid Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to be humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.” (Daniel 10:12)

Daniel stares, amazed and speechless.

"But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me…Now I am here to explain what will happen…" (Daniel 10:13-14)

I'm stopping the action here – you can read the rest of the story sometime – it's well worth it!

But I want to point out a few really crucial points. In Daniel's *visible world*, he'd been fasting and praying – in mourning for three weeks.

But oh my! What had been going on backstage??

God saw Daniel.

God heard Daniel's prayer – from the moment he uttered it.

God sent an angel to Daniel in answer to that prayer.

But, for 21 days, that angel had been delayed – in spiritual battle.

Michael came to the rescue.

And the angel continued on his Heaven-sent mission.

That's a lot of action going on backstage – important activity going on behind the scenes – activity that Daniel was totally unaware of.

I find this whole passage fascinating. It's a peek behind the curtain, a peek into the wings, a peek backstage. We are given a glimpse of the reality of the spiritual realm a real, active, vibrant, important spiritual realm.

And the Bible makes it abundantly clear that we play a key role in it.

There's a war going on. And our prayers matter. Yes, indeed, God hears them as soon as we utter them, and He responds – sometimes in ways that we don't see.

But He responds.


Let's always remember that there's a reality we don't see, but it's real. And God is saying to our hearts –

"Don't be afraid, for you are very precious to Me. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!"

And never stop praying…


"The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." (James 5:16)


(Today I am linked with Charlotte and Ginger at Spiritual Sundays, and Peggy at Super Sunday. Also, please feel free to visit my other blog during the week, Sharon Sharing God)

"When in doubt, search God out!"

6 comments:

  1. Many blessings Sharon... and my how I love LIVE~ plays like you!!! This one especially held my attention... with respect to all that is going on backstage! What a clever way of depicting this!

    A Glimpse of the Spiritual Realm! The reality behind what we see or don't see. Certainly gives ammunition to our prayer lives. Most certainly should stir us to press on and forward in our prayers. And such reassurance to know He responds, He is responding, He will respond and we should never stop. Perhaps we may not see but the reality is: much is going on behind the scenes that we may not be aware of and God never slumbers. Beautiful example from/of Daniel! I can so relate to all his strength leaving him.

    Thank you for shining the spotlight on this Bible Pick'ems this SUPER SONday! This is far from make believe... I believe and I know you do
    in the spiritual realm, prayer and the spiritual war! I believe God and I believe in Him and He's in control on all fronts; on stage and off!

    Love and peace,
    Peggy

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  2. Thanks, Sharon, for this look behind the scenes in Daniel's story. I think I'll pick this one to read thru again. Thanks for the reminder that there is a battle going on and my prayers are important. blessings, k

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  3. This is beautiful. It made me realize that the prayers I have prayed in the past were answered on Friday last week. My prayers had not been forgotten. My husband and I could have been killed in a head on collison but God provided a way out. I did not realize what was going on until I felt a bump as my husband went over a medium between four or six lanes of traffic. He was going the wrong direction in the wrong lane but God gave him an opening and he took it.
    I have prayed many times for his protection and mine when out on the road and God remembered - Praise His Holy name. He is wonderful and hears all our prayers. Thanks for sharing this and making me realize that my prayers are not in vain.

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  4. Amen Sharon,I so needed to hear this; I thank God for those behind the scene things he is doing in our lives, we may not see it, but Our God is working everything for our good behind those curtains. "Hope seen is not hope, but we don't see, we patiently wait for":) Thanks for sharing.

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  5. Another awesome "Bible Pick 'Ems" Sharon. I always enjoy reading them. Yes there is a battle behind the scene and we need to always be praying.
    Blessings,
    Ken

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  6. Peggy - AMEN to all you said! Yes, God is in firm control - both on stage and off! I know the more that I can truly believe this, the more I can just sit back and enjoy the play that He's directing!

    Karen - WELCOME! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. Please feel free to come back again. Yes, our prayers are very important in the battle - God's Word assures us of that. What an awesome privilege and responsibility to be part of God's master plan.

    Alice - WELCOME! It's so nice to have you stop by, and thank you for leaving a comment. OH MY GOODNESS! What a close call you had! Praise the Lord that His hand guided your car - and that you and your husband are safe. Our prayers reach the very heart of God, and He listens to every one. He treats them with utmost care. Yes, they are never in vain.

    Toyin - You've pointed out another key thing in the behind-the-scenes realm. The fact that all that God is doing is GOOD! Sometimes what we see doesn't seem to have any earthly good - and that's when we must trust and hope for what we can't see - that there is much, much heavenly good being accomplished.

    Ken - Thank you. We need to be praying for what we can see happening, and for what we don't see. And we must be praying for our strength to hold on, especially when we can't see *behind the curtain* - that is when trust must hang toughest.

    GOD BLESS!

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"So I have been greatly encouraged in the midst of my troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives me new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How I thank God for you!"
(1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!