The Secret Place: 21 Day DevotionalSample

THE GOD OF SECRETS

Daniel 2:19

In Daniel chapter 2, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. He was so anxious to have the true interpretation of the dream that he refused to tell the dream to those whom he sought answers from; these included magicians, soothsayers and the wise men in Babylon. The magicians and sorcerers told him that it was impossible for them to reveal his dream to him, let alone interpret it. No man could do that. As rash as Nebuchadnezzar was, in anger he decreed that all the wise men, magicians and sorcerers alike should be killed because they could not tell him his dream and its meaning. The verdict of death extended to the Jewish captives Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, who by now had a reputation of having knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom. Daniel knew, first and foremostly, that spending time seeking God and praying would result in the secret being revealed to him. He knew that God was the source of his wisdom, ‘so Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, so that he might tell the king the interpretation’. Daniel understood that time was needed in seeking God. Prior to this, we already know that Daniel was a man who was set apart from the Babylonians. He fasted when they feasted, he prayed when they played. He always sought to be with God in spite of his position as a governor in a foreign land. His responsibilities did not become his excuse, he understood the benefits of dwelling in the secret place. Time is something that we often say we don't have. “I don't have enough time”, “I am so busy”, “how do you make the time?” This year in 2024, we need to give God the seed of time to be able reap the harvest of discernment and wisdom. Daniel understood this and even under pressure, to the point of death, he took the time needed to spend with God in prayer.

Secondly, Daniel also went into prayer with his friends. Friends that were men who also were consecrated and devoted to God. They fasted with Daniel in Chapter 1 and were the same men, who steadfast in their faith, refused to bow down to an idol which had them thrown in a furnace. Daniel demonstrates his understanding of the power of agreement and covenant prayers with like minded people. ‘Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.’ ( Daniel 2 : 16 - 19) . Now that the secret had been revealed through spending time in the secret place, Daniel proclaimed to Nebuchadnezzar that there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets. God knows everything, nothing can be kept from him, and for those who will take the time to seek him, revelation is available. God can reveal deep family secrets that have plagued generations to prophetic truths for guidance and instruction. It takes time in prayer and intercession with others. Nebuchadnezzar was so astounded that in the end he praised our God saying: ‘Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.’ ( Daniel 2 : 47 ) In 2024, there are secrets we need to seek God to reveal and we need discernment to understand the times and the seasons. Everything has a spiritual root. Carve out time that is required to seek God and find yourself trusted people to pray with.

Remember, in the secret place, secrets are revealed.