October 2026 Reflections From Dave's Corner of the World

The Most Powerful Man On Earth

As you can imagine, shelter guests can easily feel powerless to control their lives and decisions.  That feeling of powerlessness is not pleasant.  People don’t come to A Ray of Hope as a first resort, but more as a last resort.  But I will say, the Lord resides here in a very clear, strong way, and they are drawn to that.  When life goes in a direction we don’t desire, we should evaluate the circumstances that led us there.  More often than not, we have contributed to our undesirable circumstances.  We are wise to take responsibility for our actions, receive the Lord's reproofs, and take them to heart.  The lessons we earn are the greatest lessons we learn.  We must realize that where we feel powerless, we can turn to God and embrace a far greater power: His.  The Prophet Daniel lived this truth, and the reproof he received was not his doing, but that of his nation, Israel.

Around 600 BC, the Prophet Daniel was taken captive to Babylon with the nation of Israel under King Nebuchadnezzar.  Daniel was a bondservant to the king, the most powerful man on earth at the time.  But as you read the book of Daniel and focus on their relationship together, you see another side of power.  You see Daniel's spiritual power, not a natural or earthly power, but a supernatural power from God.  Power lives in faith, truth, love, and every aspect of our relationship with God. 

King Nebuchadnezzar could have ordered Daniel's death.  There were more than a few times that his life was threatened or at risk.  Daniel and the king were at opposite ends of the world’s spectrum; the king was wealthy beyond imagination, and Daniel was a bond slave with no assets or freedom.  The king was a powerful man who answered to no one; Daniel was a bondservant who answered to everyone.  Let's face it: it's easy to envy the king's power and freedom and pity Daniel in his bond servitude.    Yet as you get to know these two men and look at the Spiritual level, Daniel has a power you don’t see at first glance.

Spiritually, Daniel is free, and King Nebuchadnezzar is in great bondage.  This runs counter to the logic of the world we know.  Spiritually, Daniel has great power, and King Nebuchadnezzar is a powerless bond slave.  It is amazing, and somewhat humorous, to see how these two men interacted.  The king, with all his power and wealth, was bound up and in need of Daniel, his slave, who was endowed with God’s Spirit and wisdom.  He is insecure, unsatisfied, fearful, unwise, and lacks contentment and joy.  Daniel the slave is spiritually a rock; he is secure in the Lord, satisfied, fearful of the Lord and not man; he is wise and of sound understanding; he is content and filled with joy.  Daniel is in tune with God’s purposes for his life.  He is not driven by fleshly desires or the world.  He is driven by purpose, conviction, and God's will.  Imagine that, meditate on that, embrace that!

Daniel does not need the king; the king needs Daniel.  As they interact, it is easy to see that Daniel is powerful and the king is weak.  Daniel’s needs are met in the Lord; the king’s needs are met in Daniel.  In the Lord, Daniel is by far the most powerful man on earth, and not by a small margin either.  He is strong and fearless in the Lord; his wisdom is real wisdom from the Lord; he served his captors and genuinely loved them with sincerity for 70 years.  True Power isn't defined by earthly terms; it is defined by its source.  Man's power doesn’t come close to God's power.  God’s power dwells with those who surrender their own power.  This shows how a bondservant can dwell in peace while his king lives in torment.

Pursue your Creator, and know that in doing so, you will lose the desire to pursue the lesser power below.  You will be equipped for whatever comes your way.  Daniel’s enemies hated him because they knew that God had empowered and blessed him; they hated that Daniel towered above them.  Envy is a destructive power.  Daniel loved his enemies because his Lord loved his enemies.  It takes a man resting in God's power and peace to love those who envy and hate his joy.  The power of love is far greater than the love of power.  When people see God’s love, they are moved, either to guilt or freedom.  Hopefully to freedom.  The world can harm us, but only we can let it overcome us. We have that power!  Daniel 12:3  "And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”  We don’t need the world’s power when we walk in the Lord’s power; Daniel proves that.

How can Daniel spend almost all of his life as a bondservant and yet not be bitter toward man or God, but still love and care for those who were truly his enemy?  I’m convinced the answer is found in Psalm 37:4: “Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”  I believe Daniel found delight in the Lord, which allowed him to find delight even in his bondservant position in life.  Life is not fulfilled by satisfying our desires, but by satisfying His.  Daniel didn’t have many of the freedoms that we have, and yet we don’t have many of the freedoms that Daniel had.  Spiritual freedom is freedom indeed.  Learn from Daniel and take note: Spiritual power and wealth are far more valuable than fleshly power and wealth.

Even as a captive in Babylon, Daniel was The Most Powerful Man On Earth!  I want that power, true power that man cannot shake or break.  The power that shows man God, the power that shows you fear God, not man.  The power that shows man he has no power over it.  That’s power, and God’s Spiritual power is available to all those who are ready and willing to surrender to God, receive Christ as their Savior, and pursue Him as Daniel did.  Daniel lived before Christ's coming, but he lived Christ.  Don't focus on your circumstances; they are powerless before God.  Don't focus on your powerlessness; realize you can have the power and contentment Daniel had by pursuing your God.  Satan has no power over our soul and Spirit, only over what we give him; hold the line!

Whatever your place, circumstances, or station in life, turn your eyes and heart toward God, and live your day and life as Daniel did; in Christ and Christ’s power, you will not just get by.  You will thrive as Daniel thrived, and you will love friends and enemies alike, because you will be filled with the power of Christ.  Dwell in His Word, live in His Word, and meditate on how it might apply and change you.  You cannot spend much time in the Lord's presence without being changed.  However, if you don’t spend much time in the Lord's presence, don’t expect change.  Old habits die hard, but in Christ, they will die.  Whether you're a bondservant like Daniel, a guest at A Ray of Hope rebuilding your life, or a successful businessperson lacking eternal purpose and hope, pursue Jesus, and you will gain the Spiritual power to free you from the earthly powers dragging you down.  We have one life; let’s seize this! 

Amen?  Amen!