So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” Daniel 6:16 (NIV)
Has your husband ever been thrown into the Lion’s Den? Every few months, my husband has to attend a Lion’s Den called board meetings. They are even worse than the seven overflowing toilets he battled in the girls’ dorm last week. From the very first meeting in camping ministry, board meetings have always been one of the thorns in the flesh of our work. My husband has found these to be the most discouraging and disparaging parts of his ministry, with board members shouting and making rash decisions, without a clear understanding of the day-to-day operations of the camp. So for me, sending my husband off to a board meeting, is like sending him into the Lion’s Den. I never know if he will come back alive. Does your husband have something like this that he has to face every so often? If so, I want to encourage you to pray with me.
Today is July 10, 2010 and at this very moment my husband is at a camp board meeting. As I look back in my prayer notes, I can see the dozens of times we have prayed as he went to the Lion’s Den. On January 19, 2002, he had one of these same meetings. On that day in My One Year Bible, I underlined all the verses I could pray for my husband as he endured this trial. God provided these verses for me that day:
The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered. Genesis 39:2 (NIV)
O Jesus, be with Kent and help him prosper.
Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Matthew 13:12 (NIV)
O Lord, give an abundance for all the needs of this camping ministry.
But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Matthew 13:23 (NIV)
O God, help Kent produce a crop 100 times what he has sown!
Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
hide me in the shadow of Your wings. Psalm 17:8 (NIV)
Keep Kent as the apple of Your eye. Hide my husband in the shadow of Your wings (away from the mouths of the lions).
The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but He blesses the home of the righteous. Proverbs 3:33 (NIV)
O Jesus, bless our home and family.
Today’s TEA CUPP: My friend, please pray for your husband. Use God’s Word to help you pray. Underline verses in your Bible and write in a prayer journal, so you can look back and see how God is faithful and hears your prayers. An angel will close the lion’s mouth and your marriage will be blessed.
My God sent His angel, and He shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight. Daniel 6:22 (NIV)