Daniel Devotional Day 1-11

The following came about as we began to fast and seek the Lord as to what strongman there are over our community. The purpose of this devo is to look at our lives and change what is necessary so we don't empower outside what is inside.

Click on number to take you to particular day

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Day 1

Read Daniel 1:1-10 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility-- young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's service.

Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you."

Articles are the people, your friends and neighbors, they are the ones in captivity in the temple of god.

Especially those who you once fellowshipped with in other congregations, but also those you know who are not fellowshipping anywhere.

There are many who have been hurt by the “church”. They need to be called back into the Body to receive healing, reconciliation and restitution of what the enemy has taken from them.

Today call them back into the Body. Name them out loud and call them back. Decree the destitute (those who are absent) will come home.

They were given a New Name - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. Rev. 2:17

Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. Rev. 3:12

As you overcome you will receive a “new name”

You have been chosen for a time as this. You have been chosen as God’s children to impact the king and kingdoms around you in your sphere of authority.

Vs 8 Make a decision, resolve, to not partake of the food of the world. The food that is so appealing to our human nature.

“Purposed in his heart” - Purposed = to put, place, set, appoint, make, lay (violent) hands on (BDB)

Heart = inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding 1a) inner part, midst. (BDB)

Determine in your inmost being, that you will make it, set it, put in place, lay hands on it with violence to not partake of what the world has to offer.

Decree that those around you will show you favor as you obey what God tells you to do.

Day 2

Read Daniel 1:11-21 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.

When we make a commitment to do the things of God we will be tested. As we adhere to, trust in, and rely on Christ we will pass the test. When we are tested we know there will NEVER be anything put before us that we can’t resist.

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. Proverbs 17:3

On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 1 Thes. 2:4

1 Cor. 10:13 …he (God) will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Go forward with confidence knowing God will not let you down. Prov 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Decree and expect that there will be a change in your knowledge and understanding in all you do. Expect there will be revelation from God as to how to minister to our friends and family.

Day 3

Read Daniel 2:1-18 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, he said to them, "I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means."

Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it."

The king replied to the astrologers, "This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me."

Once more they replied, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it."

Then the king answered, "I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me the dream, there is just one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me."

The astrologers answered the king, "There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men."

This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.

When Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, 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. At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.

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.

Vs 2:6 If an earthly king was willing to give “gifts and rewards and great honor”, how much more will our heavenly Father give gifts to us. God is looking for those who He can bless. There has been a tremendous amount of preaching on the transference of wealth from the sinner to the righteous. The wealth will only be given to those who will be able to handle it.

Vs 2:16 Again, if Daniel was able to petition an earthly king for time how much more can we go before THE Righteous Judge and ask for time to hear from heaven. I believe we have been given a window of opportunity to petition heaven and expect God to answer.

Daniel knew his God and could go confidently before Him with expectation.

Decree your level of expectation will increase.

Decree old mindsets of question, doubt and discouragement be gone.

Today I urge you to plead for mercy from the God of heaven to reveal to you what is holding us back from seeing His promises come forth in our life and in the church.

Day 4

Read Daniel 2:19-49 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 sets up kings and deposes them. 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, O God of my fathers: 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. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you lay on your bed are these:

"As you were lying there, O king, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.

"You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue--an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.

"This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; in your hands he has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.

"After you, another kingdom will rise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron--for iron breaks and smashes everything--and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.

"In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands--a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.

"The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy."

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery."

Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Moreover, at Daniel's request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.

We serve a God who … calleth those things which be not as though they were. Romans 4:17 (KJV), as you read the following quote from Daniel declare and decree it as already being done.

Thank Him for giving the revelation, wisdom, knowledge, understanding and power that has been released.

If you don’t dream dreams ask God to speak to you in the night season. Ask God to increase your understanding.

Ask God for favor in the workplace, in the home, in your finances, in your relationships.

We have been given rule over our enemies.

Thank Him for lavishing on you

As we go through this devotional I have been instructing you to declare and decree certain things. I sense some folks don’t want to do that or do it with some doubt because they question whether they can or should make those declarations. Some even question whether they will be able to continue to do what they declare.

As I read Matt26:31-35 today I was reminded of the declarations of the great apostle Peter. Of course at this point in his life he wasn’t great, he wasn’t an apostle or for that matter he wasn’t even Peter (the Rock) yet! Yet he declared that he would never fail Christ. In spite of what Jesus knew He didn’t correct him and saying “don’t you ever make a declaration like that again” or “you have no authority to say such things”, or “you’ll never make it past today” or any of the thoughts that go through our minds. Peter made a declaration and when he failed he repented and started back on the journey again.

Make the declarations from the passages and if they fall flat on the ground take them back up and start up again.

Day 5

Read Daniel 3:1-18

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."

Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon--Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego--who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."

Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

What If?

What if there was an image you were required to bow down to?

What if your decision got someone’s attention?

What if your decision mandated life or death?

There is a god people in our region are bowing to. Perhaps not externally but it none the less has our friends, neighbors and loved one enthralled by it. Are you willing to take a stand and not only NOT bow down but be the one that causes it to bow to our God? We are in a season where God is allowing us to see what is holding back His glory from falling. Will you join with me and ask God to reveal what people are bowing to?

Will you go against the modern movements and take a stand for Christ?

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

What if God does not come through the way you want Him to will you still bow down to Him?

I decree today that I will not bow down to any other God but the Most High God! I decree that I will not serve the god’s of man or worship the god’s of this world!

Day 6

Read Daniel 3:19-30

Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?"

They replied, "Certainly, O king."

He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!"

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way."

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

When you take a stand for holiness there most often will be a price to pay. There will also always be a reward from God. It may come in this life or it may come in the life to come. But in my personal life I have seen God reward me now for taking a stand for Him.

When we stand for God, others around us WILL notice. Jesus said “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." John 12:32. Today lift Jesus up in your actions and deeds so that men will be drawn to the Christ in you the Hope of glory.

Imagine Nebuchadnezzar talking to the four men in the furnace! How weird, the fire was seven times hotter than it should have been, the three men should have been cooked as fast as the soldiers who threw them in yet not only did the three not die, a Fourth Man came on the scene and the king saw it all and began talking to them! Don’t be surprised that when the supernatural comes people continual to look beyond the supernatural and carry on with life as usual. How amazing! Lets not take for granted the miraculous in our lives. The breath we take, the steps we walk, our eyes that see are all miraculous.

When we take a stand against satanic forces there may also be repercussions, but don’t let that keep you from moving forward. As we dislodge strongmen from this region and from our friends and families there will most likely be retaliation. PRAISE GOD! That means we are making progress. Don’t give up, don’t shrink back, stand firm, then move forward as God gives you ground.

How much more difficult was it for God to rescue Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from a fiery furnace then it is for Him to rescue you from your fiery furnace?

How much more difficult is it for God to heal cancer then it is for Him to heal a headache?

How much more difficult is it for God to promote Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego then it is for Him to promote you.

The answer is: THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE!

Declare promotion in your life today!

Declare that God WILL rescue you from anything the enemy can throw you into!

Declare wholeness in you and your families life.

Day 7

Daniel 4:1-27 King Nebuchadnezzar, To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world: May you prosper greatly!

It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in my bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)

I said, "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, and the birds of the air lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.

"In the visions I saw while lying in my bed, I looked, and there before me was a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven. He called in a loud voice: 'Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.

" 'Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him.

" 'The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.'

"This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."

Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you."

Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the beasts of the field, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds of the air-- you, O king, are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.

"You, O king, saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live like the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.'

"This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue." All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

James writes “Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” (James 3:11) In today’s passage we see in life of Nebuchadnezzar that is exactly what he does. The passage starts off with how great God is and ends up (we will find out later) with blaspheming the Most High.

How often do we allow “fresh water and salt water” to flow from our mouths?

How often do we praise God one moment and trash someone the next?

I am reminded of a dream where the Lord appeared to me and said that He was unhappy about the way I was talking about His kids. He went on to tell me that if I didn’t stop doing it I would stunt my spiritual growth. Unfortunately I didn’t stop and I have paid a price and have not grown to the extent I know I would have. Needless to say I am working diligently to curb my words. We often have to pay consequences in order to get where we are supposed to go.

Nebuchadnezzar, who here is a picture of the world (our friends, family, who don’t know the Lord), knew who to turn to when he needed Spiritual guidance. The world today is looking for us (Christians) to provide them with spiritual guidance. God has gifted each of you with the ability to interpret dreams and visions with Words of Knowledge and Wisdom to understand difficult things. You don’t need a degree to do it, Holy Spirit said He would guide you into ALL truth. As a popular ad campaign says Just Do It!

Declare that the peoples of the world will come to your door to hear from the Most High God! (That’s not being arrogant its being confident in Holy Spirit, did he not say “I will send you a Counselor?)

As we declare things that God is revealing to us that release life, let us also remember that with our tongues we also can release death. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

Day 8

Read Daniel 4:19-27

Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you."

When God reveals things to you there are times of awe and even terror over what He has said. One of the things I notice with Daniel is that he seems to allow time to hear from God. He doesn’t appear to be one that blurts out what God is saying but considers what his response should be. I have on, numerous occasions, spoken out something that was for my ears only, only to regret saying it out loud.

Do you realize the enemy can hear us when we speak out loud but can not hear our thoughts. That is what the spoken name of Jesus is so powerful, at His name every spirit on earth and in the heavens must bow to His name (Phil 2:10). WOW! Can it be that we don’t see the power we desire is because we use His name so nonchalantly? We don’t recognize the power of His Name?

As we release the words God has given us, it gives opportunity to see kingdoms change. Once the meaning of the dream was revealed the king had an opportunity to change (V27) (unfortunately he chose not to and paid a price). As God reveals the strongman in our area we will have opportunity to take steps necessary to change our area.

Continue to ask God to reveal the strongman over our families, friends and region. Don’t be surprised if He answers in a dream or vision. Write down the dreams you have in the night, write down the things you “see in your minds eye”. We will seek God for the understanding.

Pray this prayer out loud: Father how great are Your signs, how mighty Your wonders! Your kingdom is an eternal kingdom; Your dominion endures from generation to generation. I ask You to speak to me through signs and wonders.

As you pray this I have a real sense that dreams, visions, signs and wonders are being released to you!

Be blessed my beloved.

Day 9

Read Daniel 4:28-37 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?"

The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes."

Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.

His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?"

At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Some of you may remember “faster then a speeding bullet, more powerful then a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound”. That was from the opening of the Superman TV show of the 50’s-60’s (I know, just how old is he anyway?). Oh, how fast and powerful are our words.

I suspect Nebuchadnezzar regretted the words that came from his mouth the moment he said them. Have you ever said something and tried to clap your hand over your mouth as if to catch them? It doesn’t work and the damage is done.

Some of you have been on the receiving end of words misspoken and there has been damage. Those words often plague us through our lives and because they were “planted” in our spirit they tend to have an effect on everything we do. Whether in relationships with God or others our response is often channeled through that hurt.

But like Nebuchadnezzar when we lift our eyes toward heaven we can expect our “sanity” to be restored.

I have some great news for you today! The Lord says the reproach from the past is being removed even right now. Your sanity, honor, splendor are being returned for the glory of God.

Will you pray the following? Father I ask you to remove the reproach and shame I have experienced from words spoken against me. WOW! I felt such a release. Thank you Jesus that you took all my shame on the cross and I don’t have to live with it anymore.

Day 10

Read Daniel 5:1-4 King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.

We have here a picture of what has taken place in the church. It is one thing to steal from the temple of God (you and I, 1 Cor. 6:19) but then he takes and desecrates what has been set apart for God. The enemy has violated our thoughts and lives. The enemy has plundered our camp long enough. I believe it is time for him to pay back what has been stolen. The Bible speaks of restitution as being a minimum of 1% and as much as 700% Proverbs 6:31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house.

A number of years ago my wife and I were in a very severe car accident. When we spoke to our attorney he told us we have one time to go before the courts and receive a settlement. We couldn’t wait a year or two and come back and ask for more. We had to determine what was the amount we would settle for. He (our attorney) would then go before the judge and request that amount. The judge would then dispense the proper judgment against the other party.

As Jesus stands before the Righteous Judge as our attorney we have every right to speak to him and tell Him to ask the Judge for the proper settlement in the case. It is then the Judge who determines what the actual settlement will be. We know that the “Book of the Law” says a minimum of 1% so at the very least that is what we will receive. But we must speak up and ask for the proper settlement. If we don’t ask then the Judge has no way of knowing what we are looking for. Go to your attorney (Jesus) and ask him to speak to the Judge on your behalf in order that you will receive the proper restitution.

Think for a moment what has the enemy stolen from you?

Now declare it is time for restitution to begin!

Day 11

Read Daniel 5:5-17

Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way.

The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers and diviners to be brought and said to these wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."

Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.

The queen, hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. "O king, live forever!" she said. "Don't be alarmed! Don't look so pale! There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father--your father the king, I say--appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means."

So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it. Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."

Then Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

I noticed that it was a woman who knew that the king needed to contact Daniel. This woman stood up against the culture and brought insight to the perplexing situation. Woman of God arise and don’t be afraid to go against the worldly culture when you have the answer for the situation!

Once again we’re drawn to Daniel’s rich relationship with God. When Daniel was brought before the king and offered riches he wasn’t interested in what he could get. He was interested in what he could give. Imagine how we could impact our communities if our major motive was to give rather then get. In secular leadership principles they promote a “what’s in it for me” mentality. We are taught that if we expect to get people to do things our way we need to reward them. So we learn if I get rewarded then I will put forth effort. Daniel had the opposite attitude, he said keep your raise, keep your overtime check, I’m not in this for the money but to glorify my God. Col. 3:22-24 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. I’m not suggesting you do everything for free, Scripture also says the worker is worthy of the wage they receive. We are not called to be floor mats either. They didn’t make Jesus a floor mat He made Himself nothing! There is a world of difference in the two. But if we have an attitude of service in our hearts and minds God will honor that and we will be rewarded here on this earth.

Declare today that woman of God will arise and take their proper place in the Body of Christ.

Decide today you will: work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, and Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, Col.3;23 Ephes. 6:7

Lord I choose to make myself as nothing in the proper way that will bring glory to You and will establish Your kingdom.

Home • Back

New Beginnings Church
15 Silver St.
Norwich, NY 13815
607.336.3503
info@newbeginningsnorwich.org