ACE #168: It's Gonna Rain on Your Head

Last night, we attended a revival service.  The pastor preached from Daniel 6 and talked about how God would sustain those who are faithful to Him (and favored by Him)…even in a Lion’s Den.  The service was awesome and the music was excellent.

When we came out of service, we got in the car and drove around the side of the church.  Before we got on the main road, we realized we had a flat tire.  It just so happened that one of my cousins was behind us.  He pulled over to the front of the church and offered a hand.  We called roadside service while my cousin waited with us until the man came to change the tire.  My cousin’s wife even doubled back and waited with us.  The entire 45 minutes that all of this took place, there were a few sprinkles here and there.  The clouds looked dark…it threatened to rain.  The only thing that I could think about was the classic line in The Color Purple, “It’s gonna rain on your head.”

The entire situation reminded me of how the enemy can use anything to steal your joy or to distract you – a flat tire and a storm.  We came out of the service feeling rejuvenated and rejoicing; yet we also came out to a flat tire.  We stood under dark clouds and literally in the dark (with the absence of light).  The enemy used “worry” and “darkness” to distract us from the Word that the messenger had just delivered to us.  In the midst of this, God also sent us help - a visible symbol of God's faithfulness to us!

Just like Daniel, we have to be determined that we will not be distracted from receiving God’s favor and walking in His ways.  Daniel prayed religiously three times a day: morning, noon, and night.  Even when the King had signed a new law that said that no other god (or any other human being) could be served for 30 days, except King Darius himself, Daniel still prayed as he had done before.  When he was thrown into the Lion’s Den, God shut the mouths of the lions on Daniel’s behalf.  Those who conspired against him had no protection from the lions.  Daniel remained undistracted by the things around him, including the lions who had the strength to devour him, but not the capacity to do so.  Because of Daniel’s faithfulness and his favor, a whole nation served Daniel’s God!

Be determined not to let the enemy distract you from serving God and doing what thus says the Lord.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Study link:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+6