Questions
“Ask, and the gift is yours. Seek, and you’ll discover.
Knock, and the door will be opened for you.
For every persistent one will get what he asks for.
Every persistent seeker will discover what he longs for.
And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door.
“Do you know of any parent who would give his hungry child,
who asked for food, a plate of rocks instead?
Or when asked for a piece of fish, what parent would offer his child a snake instead?
If you, imperfect as you are, know how to lovingly take care of your children
and give them what’s best, how much more ready is your heavenly Father
to give wonderful gifts to those who ask him?”
(Matthew 7:7-11 TPT)
Daniel was a Hebrew, exiled from his homeland, and serving the king of Babylon as a wise man. The king had dreams that troubled him and asked his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to interpret the dream. But there was a catch – he wouldn’t tell them the dream. The astrologers couldn’t tell him what he’d dreamed and the king didn’t trust them to just make something up. So he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon, including Daniel and his friends. When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, came to them, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.
What if Daniel had not asked questions? What if he had shirked away? What if Daniel had sat back and said, “someone else can do it?”
Instead, he stepped forward to ask questions and then he went to the King!! Talk about bold! His whole workplace had just been told they were on the executioner’s list and he didn’t panic – he went to the king and asked for a little more time. Daniel had the boldness to ASK the right questions, and he had TACT in how he asked the questions. He pursued truth and understanding!!! And God gave him answers and a battle plan that worked: he interpreted the dreams and all the wise men were spared.
Are there places in your life where you feel threatened in some way? What do you do? Is there a way to ask questions to help disperse the chaos?
Daniel went to God for guidance and God had answers, solutions, and strategy. Just like God did for Daniel, he can answer your questions and give you strategy to work though the hard, even threatening, places in your life. He is waiting for each of us to ask the right questions of the right people, with the right approach and the right timing.
God sets us up for success. May we not wither in the wind or melt in the rain. But may we feel our spirits rising with courage and fortitude. We are not abandoned. We are meant for such a time as this. So in this season let’s pray that God will show us who and what questions to ask. Ask God to give you ears to hear and a discerning heart. Ask God to show you what plans to grab hold of and run with. With the leading of Holy Spirit let’s will listen and be ready.
God,
Praise be to your name forever; wisdom and power are yours. You give wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. You reveal deep and hidden things; you know what lies in darkness and light dwells in you. Thank you for having the answers to our questions. Thank you for the wisdom we need to deal with our lives. And thank you for giving us examples like Daniel, whose courage, fortitude, tact, and patience led to the saving of many lives. Give us hearts like Daniel to seek you, follow Holy Spirit’s leading, and impact our world for your Kingdom. We pray in the strong name of Christ, AMEN.
“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.” (Daniel 2:20-23 NIV)