Verse of the Day for November 19

Daniel's life was on the line. The king had ordered every wise man in Babylon killed, and Daniel was counted among them. Then, in a night vision, God showed him the king's dream.

The first thing he did with the answer was not run to the palace. He stopped and prayed. I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might.

Listen to the pronouns. God hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee, he says, and then thou hast now made known unto us. Me, then we, then us. He had asked his three friends to pray with him, and the thanks includes them. Gratitude remembered who had stood with him.

Then verse 24. His first words to the officer are Destroy not the wise men of Babylon. Not only himself and his friends. The astrologers and magicians too, men who had been no help to him at all. What God had given him, he used straight away for people who had nothing.

You already hold something God has given you, a skill, some knowledge, a little money, a working pair of hands. Stop and thank him for it by name. Then ask who in your office or on your street it could protect today.

Gratitude remembers the people who prayed with you.

What God has already given you is meant to reach someone else soon.