WALK AMONG THE LIONS

It’s a type of power, good power – the power of God. Some of us have it more than others. Why?

I wish I could be like my girlfriend. Early every morning Joni* experiences intense joy while she researches a topic from the books in her Bible. Recently she made notes while studying the book of Daniel. From each verse Joni listed all the characteristics that described this charismatic man. It helped her to understand that although Daniel was a person just like you or me, he was able to develop a powerful personality.

Remember the story of the guy who gets thrown into a den of wild ravenous lions? Originally Daniel came from Jerusalem but he gets exiled in the foreign country of Persia under the Babylonian Captivity (605-606 BC). He dares to defy the Persian king’s decree and continues to worship his own God praying three times a day. For this, he’s condemned to die by damnatio ad bestias, execution by wild animals.

So what traits in his personality gave him the confidence to walk among the hungry lions all night? Here’s a summary from Joni’s list:

DANIEL’S CHARACTER:

• 1________10 Honest
• 1________10 Bold
• 1________10 Pure
• 1________10 Wise
• 1________10 Loyal
• 1________10 Humble
• 1________10 Different
• 1________10 Innocent
• 1________10 Confident
• 1________10 Transparent
• 1________10 Obedient
• 1________10 Fervent
• 1________10 Perseverant
• 1________10 Consistent
• 1________10 Capable
• 1________10 Reliable
• 1________10 Responsible
• 1________10 Blameless
• 1________10 Faultless
• 1________10 Guileless
• 1________10 Fearless
• 1________10 Selfless
• 1________10 Dedicated
• 1________10 Determined
• 1________10 Honoured
• 1________10 Courageous
• 1 ________10 Submissive
• 1________10 Trustworthy
• 1________10 Respectful
• 1________10 Prayerful
• 1________10 Faithful
• 1________10 Peaceful
• 1________10 Thankful
• 1________10 Joyful
• 1________10 Enduring
• 1________10 Unwavering

What Godly characteristics do I have? Using a 1-10 scale, I scored myself and connected the dots. The visual line tells me where I’m developing god-like character and where I need to focus more. I’m not all those things all the time, but I want to be.

Because it’s not just what we believe, or what we do, but it is who we are on the inside.  That’s what gets manifested into our lives! That’s what makes us…well, a little bit like God. Nobody can take that away from you. It’s a type of power, good power – the power of God.

 

Here’s a pertinent quote from my book that sums it all up:

"There was a dilemma in producing humans as the God Kind: God could not create us as a finished product. What a paradox! Amazingly, we had to be left incomplete in this aspect so we might desire to learn to love and to wield power appropriately. In infinite intelligence, the Great Ones saw that only a process of development could create these final characteristics. In human terms, that process is called life." The Celestial Proposal, Chapter XX, XXX, page XX.Order on Amazon.com #The Celestial Proposal

–––––––––––––––– ♥ My Heart Thoughts to You –––––––––––––

Straight from your big black book:
Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: "May you prosper greatly! I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and revere the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever...
He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. 
He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” Daniel 6:25-27 NIV Bible

*My friend, Joni Eveleigh is an awesome woman. She’s worked in Kenya since 2007 helping impoverished widows and orphans. Now she and Pastor Mary, a respected Kenyan woman, are building a women’s center and organic farm in Cheptiret, Kenya. Go visit Joni’s website to see the results of her godly traits of boldness and determination! Click here for a recent update.