"Are You Bowing?"

"Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."  Daniel 3:4,5,12

Nebuchadnezzar had made a golden statue of himself and commanded that when the people of the land heard the music play they were to bow down before the statue and worship. I have a question for you.  What are you bowing down to?  I am not talking about bowing down to some idol, image or statue.  There are many things that want us to "bow down" to them.  Are you bowing down to fear, bitterness, unforgiveness, depression, anxiety, guilt, condemnation, intimidation, etc.?  

There is more to bowing down than just in worship out of reverence, or as a sign of respect.  Bowing is also a sign of submission. It is also a show of weakness by agreeing to the demands, or following the orders, of someone or something.  This was the case with those who bowed before the golden statue.  They were submitting to the demands of someone else.  As a result, they were held captive as a prisoner to someone else.  

The things I listed above and many other things want to take you captive and make you their prisoner.  They want you to serve and worship them.  They want to control your life-- what you do, think, say, how you act, react and respond.  But this does not have to happen.  You don't have to "bow" to them and be held captive by them.  You can be like the three who did not bow to the statue.  You can stand against the pressure that is being put on you, they did.  How? Because they believed and trust in God.  They knew He was the greater One.  They refused to serve and surrender to anyone else other than Him.  

Jesus has made you free!  You do not have to be in bondage to any thing!  Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.  You have been given power, strength and grace to overcome them.  You have been made an overcomer and more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ.  So... Don't Bow!  Rebuke the things that are trying to control you in Jesus Name!  

Have a great day.  Stop bowing to things that the Lord has set you free from!