Dealing with Stress and Challenges - Daniel 7-12

Daniel 9:1-3 (ESV)
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.

Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 

Reading God’s Word and understanding it, will eventually cause us to seek God in prayer and cry for mercy and help.   Daniel has had a view visions by now.  As he serves in these foreign lands, he has not forgot his roots and his training and teaching.  Remember, it was him who refused to eat the kings food upon arrival in Babylon.  Remember, also, it was him who refused to stop praying and was tossed into a lion’s den as a result.  Now God has ushered a number of confusing and challenging visions into his mind.  God has given him some insights that no other prophet has heard to this point.  Daniel needs clarity.  He has followed a pattern in his life so far.  In the above passage we see that in the midst of this confusion and challenge, he follows his same pattern of behavior.  When confused he goes to God’s word.  He states that, “... I, Daniel, perceived in the books ...”.   The books are the copies of the Torah, probably the copies of (or portions) of the books of the Kings.  Daniel probably had access to some of Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the writings from other prophets.  As Daniel reads these words, he is convicted.   As a result of his conviction he is bent to his knees in prayer.  This is Daniel’s stress management system.  See the reality around you, listen to the Spirit of God within you, turn to the Word of God before you and lift your voice to the God above you.   That is the method Daniel uses to deal with stress, with confusion, with challenges and the unknown.   We should follow that method:

1. Face the World of God around you.

2. Listen to the Spirit of God within you.

3. Dig into the Word of the God before you.

4. Turn to Prayer to the God above you.