trusting in invisible times

I bet you've been asked before,
If you could have any Super Power
what would it be?

And I've gotta say, for me
that is a really tough question.
And I hear so many people
who seem to have thought it out.
But I'm never the one with a quick answer.

Like... I'd never want
the ability to read minds.
I just don't want to know
what other people are thinking.
Some of them are just too twisted.

Now of course, it would be great
to be able to fly, but think
of all the favors people would
constantly ask of you.
Mostly, I'd guess by the friend
who was always showing up late,

And then there's that one about
being invisible...
but that's sort of like
reading people minds.
Because you would have
the ability to be present
without them knowing
you were around.

But of course, I've already
experienced plenty of times
when I felt invisible,
You know, you've been there too...
unnoticed, or less than important
in social situations or maybe
when you felt over-looked
for an opportunity you had
your heart set upon achieving.

Those are the kind of days
that will send you straight to the freezer.
​
I mean, I can down
a pint of ice cream
in one sitting...
after I've tasted everything
esle in the pantry, trying
to satisfy the cavern
of invisibility deep inside.

But I guess that's a pretty negative
outlook on invisibility.

When It can actually be considered
a quiet and more passive type
of personality that may
benefit you if you know how to handle
yourself in difficult situations.

I actually am a HUGE fan of someone
who is often overlooked as a Bible Hero
for his powers of invisibility.

Most people think of Bible Heroes
like David, Joshua and Sampson,
because they fought with might.

But sometimes keeping your head down
and minding your own business...
letting others spin their web of deceit,
while you try to remain invisible,
can actually make you a hero in my eyes.

It sure worked out well for Daniel.
Yes, he is the one who came to fame
for surviving the Lion's den.
But getting thrown in there
was actually the result
of quite a bit of invisibility.

You see, Daniel had been taken captive
many years before by the Babylonians
under King Nebuchadnezzar in 605 BC.
And only when once it was noted
that he was educated, wise and
able to interpret dreams,
he had been given a place of power.

The king only wanted the best
and brightest
for his personal use.
But Daniel was certain
to only give glory to God
for all that was done through him.

And for the years that followed,
roghly 67 until the Lions Den,
Daniel kept his head down
and his knees bent in prayer...
invisible power.

Now many years and leaders later,
King Darius the Mede took over Babylon.

And without even trying...
Daniel distinguished himself
above the governors and satraps,
because an excellent spirit was in him;
and the king gave thought to
setting him over the whole realm.
Daniel 6:3

Which only stirred Daniel's co-workers,
(men of stature) to jealousy...
So the governors and satraps
sought to find some charge against Daniel
concerning the kingdom;
but they could find no charge or fault,
because he was faithful;
nor was there any error
or fault found in him.

Then these men said,
“We shall not find any charge
against this Daniel unless we find it
against him concerning the law of his God.”
Daniel 6:4-5 NKJV

And since they couldn't find
any dirt on Daniel, they made up
the most ridiculous law
that would trap Daniel;
dragging him under, lifting them up...
whoever petitions any god or man
for thirty days, except you, O king,
shall be cast into the den of lions.

And they tricked King Darius
in to signing it, by praising him,
and rushing him, making certain
he could not rescind the law,
even for that Daniel,
which found favor with the king.

And Daniel remained invisible...
Now when Daniel knew
that the writing was signed,
he went home.
Daniel 6:10

That verse,
of the entire chapter,
has to be my favorite.

Because you know...
that Daniel understood
the intentions of these other men.
I mean he worked with them everyday.

Just like the people that we
work with everyday.

Not that we all work with bad people.
But we have all had one or two...
our share of them.
We have all known
a governor or satrap
sometime in our life.

So let's read it again.
It didn't say...
Now when Daniel knew
that the writing was signed,
he went home and griped
to everyone in his family,
telling them what a bunch
of jerks those guys were.

It didn't say...
Now when Daniel knew
that the writing was signed,
he marched into the King
and defended himself.

It didn't say...
Now when Daniel knew
that the writing was signed,
he went home and worried,
couldn't sleep and started
looking for a new job.

It didn't say...
a lot of things that may have
played out in my life
had I been in Daniel's situation.

But Daniel had the Super Power
of invisibility...
because an excellent spirit was in him,
because he was faithful;
not perfect,
but waiting rather than
reacting.

So how did he have that restraint?
How did he make it look so easy?

Because right after that verse
stating he went home,
we see him praying,
and those men assembling
to catch him breaking that
ridiculous law.

But remember,
Daniel is not new to this.
Daniel has been around awhile.
And while leaders have come and gone
over his many years of captivity,
he has been going home everyday
and following his faithful routine
to pray to God and draw near to Him.

Daniel does not bow to,
nor does he trust, in these men,
nor the leadership that sits on
the earthly throne in Babylon.

Daniel bows to, and believes in
the God he cannot see,
whom many consider invisible.
But that is the POWER inside of him...
that is the SPIRIT that gives him STRENGTH,
that DISTINGUISHES him from the rest.

And when these men have
found him guilty and thrown into
the Lion's den...
the Super Power of invisibility
will be so great, it will lead
King Darius to faith in God.

And that is a platform
that can reach many more people..
Then King Darius wrote:
To all peoples, nations,
and languages that dwell in all the earth:
Peace be multiplied to you.
I make a decree that in every
dominion of my kingdom
men must tremble and
fear before the God of Daniel.

For He is the living God,
And steadfast forever;
His kingdom is the one
which shall not be destroyed,
And His dominion shall endure to the end.
He delivers and rescues,
And He works signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has delivered Daniel
from the power of the lions.

So this Daniel prospered
in the reign of Darius and
in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
And needless to say...
those other governors,
and their families
ended up as lion chow.

So...
long answer, INVISIBILITY!
Yes, for sure, that's the one.
That's the Super Power I want.

That is, if I can be more like Daniel.

Word of God
train me today...
To have an excellent spirt
that gives You glory in everything.
To be faithful, always trusting
​in Your deliverance
especially in the invisible times.