“Daniel praised the God of heaven. He said, “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. He controls the course of world events…” Daniel 2:19-21
Heavenly Father, I wouldn’t want to live in the Babylon of Daniel’s day, where he and his friends lived in captivity for decades. As heart-concerning, frustration-igniting, fear-fueling as life in our world is, I’ll joyfully take our day and place over his.
That being said, I (and this gospel-posse of praying friends) do want to know, love, and trust you like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did. It’s that they are great men to be emulated; it’s that you are a great God to be worshiped, enjoyed, and served.
These sons of yours enjoyed heart-inflaming, mind-transforming, life-shaping relationship with you. And they knew Babylon was your Babylon. Providence, not happenstance, circumstance, or accidents ruled the world. Father, we want to know you like our brothers-in-Babylon did.
Restore our first-love for Jesus. Fill us with your Holy Spirit. Renew our heart-trust in you, Father—the one who “controls the course of world events.” This virus—and every other global pandemic, cosmic disruption, and international crisis—they all serve your sovereign purposes, and they all have an expiration date set in the courts of heaven.
The globalization we most crave is the Day your glory will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9). Because of Jesus, that Day is set and coming. Hallelujah, and may it be soon. So very Amen we pray, in his glorious name.