Over the years, I have been privileged to walk along some of the most magnificent beaches in the world. Not long ago, I was at a seashore known for its tremendous waves, and I was acutely aware of the rise and fall of the tides.
As I gazed out at the ocean, I asked myself, What makes tides go from beautiful to dangerous? What causes the sea to swell and produce a wave that washes away beaches and homes?
The answer in many cases is storms. Some pound on the surface of the water just offshore, while others occur far away, causing a ripple effect throughout the ocean. Some involve fierce winds; others, a seemingly endless amount of heavy rain.
These observations of nature started me thinking about the issues facing our nation—storms that have nothing to do with the weather. Rather, they are situations in our lives that devastate us like a category five hurricane ravaging a coastal village. They may arise due to any number of distressing circumstances. Dark, threatening clouds roll in so large, turbulent, and overwhelming that they absolutely destroy our peace and security. We don’t know what to do or where to go, because we simply cannot escape their fury.
I believe that our country is facing just such a storm—a destructive, man-made tide, and that it is deteriorating our country at a frightening pace. And as an American citizen, father, grandfather, and preacher of the Word, I feel the responsibility to speak up about the issues in our nation and personal lives that require our attention and intercession as believers.
Some people question whether Christians should be involved in government at all. However, I do not find a single verse in Scripture that calls us to disengage from the responsibilities of citizenship. On the contrary, Proverbs 11:11 (TLB) teaches us, “The good influence of godly citizens causes a city to prosper.”
The Bible describes at length how godly men influenced kings for the good of their people. What this tells me is that we need to be actively involved in overcoming the issues that confront us as a nation—both by prayer and by contacting our lawmakers to impact their votes. This also tells me that our hope in God compels us to proactively influence those who are in power.
An example from history
The prophet Daniel did much to shape the opinions of the ruling authorities for the sake of the Jewish people. In fact, Daniel’s influence spanned almost 70 years—during both the Babylonian and Medo-Persian empires and through the reigns of multiple kings. His influence was powerful because he knew where to place his hope. He trusted in God above all else.
Daniel was just a teenager when he was taken to Babylon in 605 B.C. during the first of three deportations from the nation of Judah. He was chosen for the king’s service, where he distinguished himself almost immediately—becoming known for his knowledge, intelligence, and abilities.
One night Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, awoke from a disturbing dream feeling profoundly troubled. He immediately sent for the court magicians and wise men and demanded that they both describe his nightmare and explain its meaning. He added, “If you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you will be torn limb from limb and your houses will be made a rubbish heap” (Dan. 2:5).
The sorcerers and counselors were dumbfounded. They had no answer for him—how could they? When they told the king that his command was impossible to carry out, Nebuchadnezzar ordered that all the wise men of Babylon be executed— including Daniel.
Daniel heard of the death sentence and asked the king for time to consult God on the matter. That evening, he prayed with three other Hebrew exiles in the king’s service—Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. During the night, the Lord revealed the vision and its interpretation to Daniel.
As a result, the young prophet was able to tell Nebuchadnezzar all he wanted to know about the dream and its significance. More importantly, however, he revealed to Whom Nebuchadnezzar was ultimately accountable—the Lord God Almighty. Rightly attributing all of the glory to the Father, Daniel said, “There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place” (v. 28).
We need to be actively involved in overcoming the issues that confront us as a nation.
At this point, it is important to notice three things:
1. No human leader knows everything.
No government official can possibly have all the answers necessary to solve all the problems a nation faces. Although Babylon was a very advanced empire at the time, Nebuchadnezzar realized that he had no idea what his dream meant or what to do about it. The same is often true for today’s leaders, who deal with such diverse issues that they couldn’t possibly be experts on them all. They must rely on the counsel of their advisors to make their decisions— which is not always optimal.
2. God knows.
Thankfully, the Lord has profound wisdom about all things. He sees from the beginning to the end of every matter, and understands the absolute best course to take in every situation. When we place our trust in Him, we will not fail.
3. The Father will reveal what we need to know.
James 1:5 makes this great promise: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” There is only one requirement: We must ask in faith, which means we cannot doubt the Lord’s response (v. 6).
When Daniel received God’s answer, he trusted that he had been given exactly what he needed and immediately praised the Father for His provision. The prophet did not hesitate or question the revelation; rather, he acknowledged the Lord’s goodness and sovereignty.
What we should do and what we can expect?
So how can you and I influence our leaders as Daniel did? Four aspects of his story are worth a closer look. These teachings show us what we should do—and the response we can expect—when we approach God for His wisdom and provision.
1. Go before Him with a humble heart.
The first thing we should note is that Daniel asked Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah to join him in prayer, without first forming opinions or assumptions about Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The four young men went humbly before the Father to seek His guidance and “compassion . . . concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed” (Dan. 2:18). We would be wise to do the same.
2. Wait patiently for the Lord’s reply.
Second, after Daniel prayed, he waited for God to respond. Keep in mind that those four Hebrew youths were facing a death sentence. Yet the prophet went to sleep, confident in the Father’s provision and wisdom. What an example of complete trust and hope in the Lord!
Many people are so busy pursuing their desires that they fail to pause long enough to hear the Lord. They fear that if they take time to wait on Him, they will miss out on vital opportunities. Nothing could be further from the truth. The single most important thing we can do with our time is to wait on God in prayer. It is crucial that we sit still and pay attention to what He is saying to us. After all, listening to the Lord is absolutely essential if we hope to walk with Him.
3. Be content with His answer.
Third, we should realize that the Lord revealed all Daniel needed to know about the king’s dream, including the meaning of each detail. There was no need to wait for more information from the Father. Rather, the prophet trusted that he had been given everything he needed to proceed.
The same is true for us. Whenever the Lord gives us a command, we should immediately do as He says. We can trust that He will take full responsibility for our needs as we obey Him—and that includes providing us with all pertinent information.
God’s plans and purposes may unfold over time, but we can be confident that He will always give us everything we require to succeed. Our responsibility is to keep listening, trusting, and obeying.
4. Respond to Him in praise.
Finally, we should see that Daniel’s immediate reaction to the Lord’s provision was to voice praise of God as the only One who can reveal such mysteries (vv. 27-28). The prophet did not see this triumph as an opportunity to glean favor for himself. Rather, he rightly recognized it as God’s victory and consistently attributed all of the glory to the Father.
In response, the king proclaimed, “Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery” (v. 47). Because of Daniel’s courageous testimony, King Nebuchadnezzar began the journey that would eventually lead him to “praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven” (4:37).
What about you?
You may be wondering, Can I truly hear God’s voice and receive answers to my questions? Can I really be like Daniel and influence those in office with God’s own wisdom?
Jesus taught the disciples, “When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about . . . what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Luke 12:11-12).
And He did. After bringing the disciples in for questioning, the Jewish rulers “observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men. They were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13, emphasis added).
If uneducated fishermen left such an impression on the scholarly temple officials, how much more can you—with all of your gifts, training, and experience—influence the leaders of our nation? But you must notice the key: they had been with Jesus. As I often say, your intimacy with God determines the impact that your life has on others.
The article was selected from In Touch magazine.
