"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us," Romans 8:37. "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy," Romans 9:16 (KJV). "I returned and saw under the sun that—The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all," Ecclesiastes 9:11.
We are more than victorious. No person who is truly loved by all exists without an enemy. People hate you most times not because you deserve to be hated. Sometimes you experience inherited hatred. Sometimes you are hated without a reason. Sometimes you are hated for doing good. Sometimes you are hated for doing wrong. Sometimes because of your family or tribal background. Sometimes for your religious affiliation. Sometimes for being successful. Sometimes for being a failure. Sometimes for loving too much. Sometimes for not loving or loving less. Who you are, what you do, and how you do it could earn you some portion of hatred.
Our victory is not based on skill, though very expedient; not based on experience, but very handy; not based on gender or academic attainment or connection, but only by God's mercy granted to us through Christ's love given to us in time. Life is full of battles and scars, but through Christ we can do valiantly. Psalm 60:12 said: "Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies."
Understanding Human Trouble
Job 5:7 says: "Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward" (KJV). It is human! Mortals are born and bred for trouble, as certainly as sparks fly upward. What a blessing when God corrects you! (The Message Bible). "Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward" (NIV). "But human beings are born to trouble just as sparks fly upward" (New Revised Standard). "But trouble is man's fate from birth, as the flames go up from the fire" (The Bible in Basic English). "Surely humans are born to distress, just as sparks rise up" (Common English Bible).
The Story of Daniel and His Companions
In Daniel 3:19-30, we see Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—four Hebrew young men who were taken as captives. The Book of Daniel begins with an introduction, telling how Daniel and his companions came to be in Babylon. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, Daniel and his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. The four were chosen, for their intellect and beauty, to be trained in the Babylonian court. They were also given new names. Their names were changed to give them a new identity and perspective: Daniel was changed to Belteshazzar; Hananiah to Shadrach; Mishael to Meshach; and Azariah to Abednego.
The Interpretation of Their Names
Daniel was a Hebrew name meaning "God is my Judge." Belteshazzar, a Babylonian name meaning "protect the life of the king," which is slightly different from Belshazzar meaning "god of Bel." Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary interpreted Belteshazzar to mean "who lays up treasures in secret." Considering these meanings, this could mean that Belteshazzar means "someone who protects the life of the king by laying up treasures in secret." Hananiah (Hebrew name) means "God has favored." Shadrach (Babylonian) means "command of Aku" and is associated with the Babylonian moon god, which could mean "servant of the moon god" or "servant of Sin." Mishael means in Hebrew "who is God's" (God's Own). Meshach means "guest of a king," which could further be interpreted as "shadow of a prince." Azariah in Hebrew means "God has helped." Abednego in Babylon means "servant of Ishtar" or "servant of the god Nego," which was a corruption of the Babylonian "Nebo." Ishtar or Nego refers to a god in Babylon called the "shining light, morning star." Their names and identity were changed to suit their master's plan and agenda.
I declare today that every force changing your identity to align with their evil plan, may their power over your life expire by fire and may you be made free in Jesus' name.
