What was the Turning Point in Your Life?

Do you know someone who has had a life-changing moment? Maybe you’ve recently had a turning point yourself. Daniel the prophet experienced one that greatly impacted him.

In fact, he faced a life or death situation. But his faith and God-inspired boldness saved his and his friends’ lives.

Daniel’s ministry actually began with this turning point. He knew that God was the only one who could solve the king’s problem. Therefore he started with the following;

But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed. Daniel 2:28

In capturing Judah, the Babylonians killed quite a few people. They took many others into captivity and also left a few behind to care for the land.

Daniel, along with some friends were among a few chosen ones. The king gave them special treatment because of these three qualities, their youth, brains, and looks.

For three years they enjoyed the best of the best. They were not treated as prisoners. Instead, they received intensive training to work in the king’s service.

One night King Nebuchadnezzar had a disturbing dream but he couldn’t remember the dream. So he summoned all his wise men.

He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, and he demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed. Daniel 2:2

They couldn’t! How could they have known what went on in the king’s dream? So they told him as much.

Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, “Long live the king! Tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means.” Daniel 2:4

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The King was not Happy

Nebuchadnezzar was not happy with their response. He would not take no for an answer.

If they failed they would experience a turning point in their lives called death.

The king was serious about the consequences of their inability to tell him his dream. He promised they would die a gruesome death.

The king said to the astrologers, “I am serious about this. If you don’t tell me what my dream was and what it means, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be turned into heaps of rubble! Daniel 2:7

The magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers boldly stood before the king pleading their case. They considered his request unfair. They said the following;

The king’s demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream, and they do not live here among people. Daniel 2:11

The king was furious and sentenced them all to death. Sadly the king also considered Daniel and his friends men of wisdom so they too were destined for death.

When Daniel heard this news he went to the king asking for more time. When he shared the news with his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, he urged them to pray.

He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret. So they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon. Daniel 2:18

Today’s verse says that God revealed the dream to Daniel and what it meant. So he went before the king telling him that no man could reveal his secret. Only God could.

After giving God the credit for revealing the king’s dream, Daniel proceeded with the interpretation.

Turning Point

This Turning Point Forced Daniel to Depend on God

Daniel and his friends were now forced to depend on God for their lives. This could have been the turning point that brought Daniel to become the man of faith he became.

I’m not saying he wasn’t a spiritual person before this. We know he held tightly to his Hebrew culture because of his refusal to eat the king’s food and wine.

But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. Daniel 1:8

The Faith of Daniel and his Friends Strengthened

Strictly adhering to culture or tradition doesn’t measure a person’s relationship with God. Sometimes the Lord creates a turning point in our lives to draw us closer to Him.

That happened with Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Along with sparing their lives in this instance, their faith grew stronger for other circumstances.

Through faith, Daniel escaped death after spending the night in a lion’s den. The other three survived unharmed after the king had them thrown into a fiery furnace.

Daniel was more than concerned when faced with this turning point. But he took it to God and came out on the other side a much better person.

When you are faced with a turning point in your life don’t blame God. Instead, turn to Him. He will use every turning point you encounter for your benefit if you will let Him.

Lord, thank you for the example of the way Daniel handled this turning point in his life. Help us to rely totally on you for everything that comes our way.

Check out these other posts from the book of Daniel.



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