It has been a while since I have wrote to you. My heart has been burdened as I witness my countrymen in torment. It causes me to think of Abraham when he petitioned God to save Sodom, the very city that his nephew and family lived when God was about to bring judgment on the city.

It is my desire that my country, and it’s people, be saved from the evil that causes it to be destroyed. I must admit that at times I feel defeated myself. So much has taken place this year, and there is not too much that could have prepared us for it. I do, though, thank God for his grace during this time. He has really blessed us in our times of need. It is a testimony that He is faithful and true.

The main reason that I have not written to you is that God had not given me permission to do so. I suppose that there is a time for everything. It is my initial response to share all that God reveals to me, but not every moment is the right one. So, I am here, sitting in anguish, broken-hearted over what I witness and yet I dont have the power to do anything about it. But today is different.

Last week, I began to read through the book of Daniel. He was in a difficult situation. His country had been besieged by one of the most ruthless kings of all time, and most of them were taken captives into Babylon. At one point, he was about to be killed by decree of the king along with many others. It was all because of a dream that Nebuchadnezzar had one night that troubled him.

Daniel 2:14 (NIV) tells us:

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 earned 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. During th night the mystery was revealed to Danielin a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven…”

It is revealed in the next chapter that Daniel’s vision was completely accurate, and they were all saved, including the other men who were considered to be wise by the king.

There are two words that really stood out for me, and they were “wisdom” and “tact”. Without Daniel using these two things, he would have never gotten the chance to save himself and his friends.

Daniel didn’t protest; he took the matter directly to his close friends and, togethor, they petitioned God. There were only four of them, and their prayers and praises resulted in many being saved from death.

Friends, may I urge you. Instead of protesting man, petition God. It is the God of heaven that holds the power.

I leave you with this passage, Daniel 2:20-23 (NIV):

“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 the 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 us the dream of the king.

Let us seek God for wisdom, knowledge and the power to fulfill whatever God has commanded us to do for it is God that knows the times and the seasons. He knows the future and what is best for us to do.

Go forth and be blessed, my friend.