Ephesians 3:20, Dan 1:1-3, Psalm 139:5-10

Carl Belcher

One of my favourite often quoted scriptures is Ephesians 3:20:

'Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.'

I've started to get a much deeper realisation that this isn't just about a God who can far exceed our expectations and imaginations, but because it's 'according to his power that is at work within us', it's about us going above and beyond what is acceptable, expectable or predictable.

The problem with these sort of promises in the Bible is that we can all too easily read them and then fold our arms and wait for God to just do it. Now, I know that God is able to do anything; but if we really do want to see the 'immeasurably more' in our lives, then we also need to take some of the responsibility by living in a way that goes above and beyond the ordinary.

One of my heroes who exemplifies this mind-set and lifestyle is Daniel. He shows us in chapter one of Daniel that although the enemy tries to strategically subvert his destiny, because of how Daniel chose to react to these attempts it was said of him that, 'The king found none equal to Daniel' and, 'In every matter of wisdom and understanding, he found them head and shoulders above all the dream interpreters and enchanters in his entire kingdom.'

So what was the enemies strategy and how did Daniel overcome it? In this Life File we're going to look at the 1st of 4 key tactics that the enemy used on Daniel and still uses on us today.

1. Isolate - from God's people and practices - Dan 1:1-3

Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar had invaded Jerusalem and taken away their finest young men for his own purposes. This wasn't just so that he could have some high quality guys on his staff, but to limit Israel's strength by taking away their next generation of up and coming leaders.

He also knew that he had a much better chance of changing their behaviour and beliefs if he took them out of the 'God culture' they experienced with their families and friends.

Daniel didn't have much choice about this, but often we can find ourselves being similarly isolated through the choices we make. Are you allowing yourself to become isolated from God's people through choice? Have you given up on meeting with other Christians to encourage, learn and share together? Is church an optional extra or a mandatory must to you?

If you take a burning coal out of a roaring fire and isolate it, it will start to lose heat and it's glow will diminish. Very soon it's going to stop glowing altogether. But when re-injected into the fire surrounded by loads of other burning coals, it will burn with an intensity that it just can't achieve on its own.

If you've allowed yourself to become that solitary struggling coal, GET BACK INTO THE FIRE!!

Even though Daniel didn't have much choice about his isolation, he did have a choice about his response. Although the enemy had isolated him from God's people, Daniel knew that they couldn't isolate him from God's presence.

Read Psalm 139:5-10 and see just how present God is.

If you are isolated not through choice, know God's presence is still with you. You may be isolated, but you are not abandoned. You are not alone.

Last night I returned from Grapevine after an incredible five days where I had the privilege of seeing God do some awesome things in the lives of countless young people; healing, restoring, saving and calling. There is nothing like being surrounded by hundreds of young people chanting, screaming, singing and whispering the praises of God as together we sense his awesome presence. And now today I sit alone in my office quietly reflecting, thanking and sensing his awesome presence.

May you know his presence in the big and in the small. May you know his presence at all times.