Daniel's Resolve

Beyond the Present Time
The Kingdom of God
Daniel's Prayer

Daniel 1:8-16

The Message

^8-10 But Daniel determined that he would not defile himself by eating the king’s food or drinking his wine, so he asked the head of the palace staff to exempt him from the royal diet. The head of the palace staff, by God’s grace, liked Daniel, but he warned him, “I’m afraid of what my master the king will do. He is the one who assigned this diet and if he sees that you are not as healthy as the rest, he’ll have my head!”
^11-13 But Daniel appealed to a steward who had been assigned by the head of the palace staff to be in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: “Try us out for ten days on a simple diet of vegetables and water. Then compare us with the young men who eat from the royal menu. Make your decision on the basis of what you see.”
^14-16 The steward agreed to do it and fed them vegetables and water for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked better and more robust than all the others who had been eating from the royal menu. So the steward continued to exempt them from the royal menu of food and drink and served them only vegetables.

For Reflection

God calls us to obey even it it goes against common culture and political structure.  God also gave us the capacity to offer acceptable alternatives more in line with our faith.  God also promised to stand beside us and guide our way.  Daniel had great commitment to obedience and a deep trust of his God. Daniel's wisdom is God-centered.  How are you coping with your counter-culture faith?

Pray

that you will give up on modern cultural expectations and give in to the culture of God's Kingdom.  Pray that you will place your life in God's hands.  Pray for the trust and courage to risk a God-centered life.