From Sleep to Strength: The Touch of Divine Awakening
"Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright." - Daniel 8:18
In the bustling pace of our modern lives, it is all too easy to become overwhelmed by the trials and tribulations we face. Just like Daniel, we may find ourselves in moments of deep sleep, not a restful sleep but rather a state of spiritual lethargy, quiet despair, or emotional discouragement. The prophet Daniel was no stranger to troubling times; he lived through tumultuous events and faced incredible challenges as an exile in Babylon. Yet, in the midst of his struggles, we see God’s hand reaching out to provide strength and comfort.
The verse we reflect on today comes from Daniel 8:18 in the King James Version (KJV): "Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright." This powerful moment in Daniel’s life serves as an invitation for us to examine our own experiences of spiritual slumber and the transformative touch of God.
Daniel was in a deep sleep, indicating more than just physical tiredness; it highlights a profound sense of being overwhelmed and perhaps even defeated. The divine messenger spoke with him, but he was unable to fully comprehend or receive the message due to the weight of his exhaustion and fear. How often do we feel the weight of our circumstances pressing us down, leaving us in a state of spiritual sluggishness? In the depths of our despair, the messages of hope and purpose from God can feel distant, and we may lay face down, paralyzed by our struggles.
However, just as Daniel experienced, there is a pivotal moment when God intervenes. "But he touched me, and set me upright." This touching is not merely a physical act; it symbolizes a divine impartation of encouragement, strength, and purpose. The touch of God changes everything. It takes us from a place of vulnerability and despair and lifts us into a posture of hope and resilience. God does not leave us in our state of slumber; He reaches into our deepest despair and awakens us to His presence, His power, and His plan.
Consider the moments in your life when you felt spiritually asleep—when life’s challenges made you feel as if you were face down on the ground, unable to rise up. It is in these vulnerable places that God meets us. Often, it is not until we are on our knees, in a state of surrender, that we are receptive to His touch. The lift from God is not just a physical change; it is a spiritual awakening. His touch can reignite our passions and clarify our purpose.
In Daniel's encounter, the touch was transformative. Once he was set upright, he was ready to receive God’s messages. When God touches us, He prepares us for what lies ahead. The lifting that happens after His touch equips us to face challenges with renewed strength and faith. Walking upright means standing in the authority and grace which God provides. In this posture, we can engage with the world around us, discerning the truth amidst the chaos and embracing the hope that only comes from Him.
As we reflect on Daniel 8:18, let us pray for the touch of God in our lives. May we seek His presence and invite His touch, asking Him to awaken us from our spiritual slumber. Let’s invite Him to lift us up, giving us strength to pursue His calling and to stand firm in faith. Today, may we be reminded that no matter how deep our sleep may feel, God is always there, ready to touch us and set us upright.
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Daniel 8:18 - "Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright."
Daniel 8:18 Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright
"Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright." - Daniel 8:18
Daniel 7:8
Daniel 2:18 - "That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon."
Daniel 8:27 - "And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it."
Daniel 8:15 - "¶ And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man."
Daniel 8:1 - "In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first."
Daniel 4:8 - "¶ But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,"
Daniel 10:18 - "Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,"
Daniel 3:8 - "¶ Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews."
Daniel 7:18 - "But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever."
Ezra 8:2 - "Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush."
Daniel 1:8 - "¶ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself."
Daniel 8:20 - "The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia."
Daniel 5:18 - "O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:"
Daniel 8:27 (KJVA) 27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
Daniel 8:21 - "And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king."
Daniel 8:8 - "Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven."
Daniel 8:27 (KJVA) 27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
Daniel 8:27 (KJVA) 27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
Daniel 1:18 - "Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar."
Daniel 12:8 - "And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?"
Daniel 8:14 - "And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed."
"That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon." - Daniel 2:18
Daniel 5:8 - "Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof."
Daniel 8:10 - "And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them."
Daniel 8:26 - "And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days."
Daniel 6:8 - "Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not."
Daniel 8:12 - "And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered."