Pastor was preaching out of Daniel 9 today, and cited verses 3 and 4:

And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

He talked about that, in spite of his secular success and political power, Daniel still prays. Even though Daniel had spent a night in the lions' den, he still prays. And when he prays, he prays with confidence. Daniel prays with confidence because he knows who God is.

When you know who God is, you will have bold confidence in Him. Bold confidence will affirm your walk, guide you, and keep you from wavering or being double-minded. Knowing who God is brings stability and consistency to a believer's life.

How does one begin to understand who God is? Through experience and through relationship. You can't know God as a deliverer unless you've been delivered. You can't be delivered unless you've been bound. You can't know God as a provider unless you've had a need that was unresolvable by your own efforts. You can't know God as a healer unless you've suffered from disease or sickness. You can't know God as a comforter unless you've needed comfort.

Before you can have a testimony, you have to have a test.