Those Who Know Their God Shall Be Strong

 "And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries:

 but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." 

Daniel 11:32 KJV

"With flattery he will corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, 

but the people who know their God 

will be strong 

and take action." 

Daniel 11:32 Holman

(for context read all of Daniel 11 at the link below

 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+11&version=HCSB

This chapter is describing a time of great distress that is yet to come. Verses 21-44 are about a person who will do great evil and have great power for a predetermined length of time. Verse 32 in the midst of this section shows us those who were strong in the Lord because they knew Him.  This meditation focuses on this encouragement. To see the strength of this encouragement, one must understand the time that is being described.  In other words, this encouragement is not just for times when it is easy to be encouraged to trust in God but in the worst and most difficult setting we could possibly imagine. I find tremendous comfort in this.)

A time of great difficulty and distress

Darkness and despair

An unfettered reign of evil

Seeming destruction of all that is good

Deceit, falsehood and trickery 

Fear and intense pressure 

struggle and deprivation

But this is not all that is

There is still YOU

You who sit enthroned above all

You who hold even the most powerful we know in utter derision and contempt.

You laugh at their boastful words

Because you know their time is short

Their days are limited

Because You have set the limits

Their days are numbered beforehand

You alone are God

And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing.  

And He does according to His will in the host of heaven  

and among the inhabitants of the earth,  

and none can stay His hand  

or say to Him, What are You doing? 

   

Daniel 4:35 Amp.

Darkness shall endure only as long as you allow it

Yes, you do allow it

We don't always know why

But we know YOU

That You alone are God

You alone are all powerful

You alone are all knowing

And You alone are all loving

Even to those who vehemently oppose and despise you

You give time 

And an opportunity to know you

Be transformed and love you

"But God demonstrated his love in that while we were still sinners Christ died fir us." Romans 8:32 KJV

18 Christ himself died for you. And that one death paid for your sins. 

He was not guilty, but he died for those who are guilty.

 He did this to bring you all to God.

 His body was killed, but he was made alive in the spirit.  i Peter 3:18 ICB

As a child to a Father who so loves, anyone can be brought to know you

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son.

 God gave his Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Only you can transform our hearts to truly know you and love you 

and because of love for you truly know and love all others

Yes Lord please come in

Do your transformative working

Cause us to see you and know you

No matter what our physical mental emotional circumstantial states

We worship you Lord

Dan 11 32b  :... the people who know their God will be strong and take action."

These folks were not strong or brave or hopeful or wise 

Or any other quality in themselves

The only quality told us was that they knew their God

Belonged to him

Loved and were loved by him

There was nothing special about them 

Only that they had a living connection to the living God

Whatever our struggles and difficulties now let us take the opportunity that is here

right here

in this very moment and state to seek and pursue you

to cry out to you

To read your word to seek you in all

to open our hearts to you and trust in you

To let our relationship with you grow strong

Rooted and grounded in Christ

7 Keep your roots deep in him 

and have your lives built on him.

Be strong in the faith, just as you were taught. 

And always be thankful. 

Colossians 2:7 ICB

17 I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. 

I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love.

Ephesians 3:17 ICB

The suffering we are enduring has its limits. It will end but You are eternal and our relationship with you is eternal.

Dan 11 32b  :... the people who know their God will be strong and take action."

For further encouragement:

  Daniel 4    https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%204

When LIfe and Beliefs Collide by Carolyn Custis James  has been a tremendous strength and encouragement to me to seek above all else to know God

The life of Joseph in Genesis chapters 37 through 50 is also a deep encouragement to me that God is working even in the deepest sufferings and how he can so completely transform our lives in just one day.