The Holy Spirit woke me up this morning with the name Belteshazzar.
It was the pagan name given to the Hebrew boy, Daniel, who was taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar.
My eyes were open to several things, in this story-
including the wisdom that the Holy Spirit produced in and through the lives of this young man and his friends, who had a heart solely for the One True God.
| Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego. |
| 8 ¶ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Daniel 1:7-8 |
Daniel longed for purity, asking to refrain from eating the King’s meat or partaking in any of the pagan practices.
The favor on his life was so endowed by God with wisdom that he surpassed his peers by a long shot.
To the point that he was the only one, along with his prayer-warrior friends, who could interpret a dream that the King had dreamed.
The King was astounded, and smitten with the God that gave Daniel this wisdom,
that is, until his next bout with pride, in which he decided to make a statue of himself that everyone was to bow down to.
But the boys wouldn’t budge.
(Daniel wasn’t in this episode, but the other three were…
honestly, I didn’t want to write out their names again… you know who I’m talking about)
They refused to bow, and consequently they were thrown into a blazing, fiery furnace.
BUT GOD, sent one who looked to be the Son of God, to walk with them in the fire, and keep them from even smelling like smoke!
The King was again amazed….
So, here I sit tonight, meditating and mulling and asking God to show me who I am in this portion of scripture.
Then He quietly answered me, “both.”
My heart yearns to be pure, and walking after the heart of God as passionately as Daniel and his friends-
To excel above all this Worldly influence and to show forth the praises of the Only Great and Mighty God,
but I also confess, that I’ve been like that King who has experienced the overwhelming Knowing that God has shown Himself so strong in my life and yet still I revert back to pride.
The irony of the whole thing was How God wasn’t caught off guard about the King, the captivity, or the fire.
God was the Author of Deliverance for everyone.
He gave Nebuchadnezzar the dream, and He gave Daniel the interpretation.
He loved them, both.
ThankFully Restored 
God IS the author of DELIVERANCE for everyone!! Love this!!
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