Faith like Daniel

Unwavering faith and Resolute commitment. That’s what it takes to win!

Uncompromisingly- Unswervingly - Non complacency! Or else you ride the fence!

Knowing your why, your Who, your mission and sticking to it. Only this kind of attitude will do. It’s commitment and a made up mind.

I’d like to dedicate this to my cousin Daniel who is facing a soon upcoming surgery. I see his faith now more than ever shining through. Even if it’s just through Facebook, I feel his hearts intent and see the light of Jesus shining through him. He will not only have a testimony but he is a testimony, and this is how he will keep overcoming! By what God has done in, for and through him.

We’ve been bought with a price and we must stand in it!

Daniel 6

7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.

8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.

10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Basically, these men didn’t like Daniel praying or his fervency for God! The enemy doesn’t like our prayer life either because he knows like Daniel knew, that it works! Why else do you think he comes against us so hard against us? Prayer was obviously a big deal to Daniel and he refused not to pray! Prayer was his power and direct connection with God. It’s ours too. Daniels prayers availed much and his resolute attitude to refuse to stop, kept him from the intended harm that these men sought for him. It got him thrown into the lions den but it also is the very thing that not only saved him, but many more who saw. The enemy seeks to sink us too. This is why we must stay alert, active in the faith and on guard.

Is there any evidence of our faith in what we do and in how we live? We think our loved ones know but if anyone was to stop and truly observe our life, could they tell where and what we stand for? Is there any evidence there? Or do we just fit nicely in the mix? God is looking for those who are loyal and whose hearts are set on Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Daniel didn’t waver!!! Daniel knew where he stood. This kind of commitment is equally important in our lives too. We live in a different day now than we’ve ever seen before.

There will be times when you need and have to make a stand for what others try to take out from under you!

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13

These men that were against David (evil is against good. Jesus was hated without cause. Evil calls wrong right and right wrong!) and so they approached the king to make a decree that no man could seek out any god but the king himself, for thirty days. David refused. The king signed the writing/decree and Daniel knew it! But what did he do? Go home and shrink back, comply or tremble in fear? No! He went home and did what he’d been doing all along! He didn’t stop. He went in with his windows wide opened (nothing hidden) and anyone could see, and HE PRAYED and GAVE THANKS!

He got down on his knees and kept doing what he had been doing all along. He prayed 3x a day! Nothing changed. Morning noon and night, he prayed. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing and in everything to give thanks. We can pray anytime and anywhere. God is everywhere and Jesus intercedes on our behalf when we pray! That’s good news. Our whole life can be one big prayer and praise to God. Wherever we go and in whatever we do.

We see many times in the life of Daniel that he refused to waver. He had a made up mind. Daniel might not have been David, but he was still a warrior indeed. A prayer warrior. A fighter for what he believed. If you look back in 1 Chronicles 12, you’ll see that David had men like Daniel on his side. Men that were 100% convinced, strong minded and resolute in what they were fighting for. They were sold out. And because of their single mindedness and firm heart set, they were victorious. It’s important to know where you stand and what you stand for, but also who you surround yourself with and have standing with you.

If you’re not fully convinced and leave any room for doubt, this only leaves room for us to fall. We all have room for improvement and we all have fears, that’s why we must constantly fuel and feed and strengthen our faith - and never shrink back. God knows our weaknesses but we must be honest, confess it and our need for Him to fill it. Like the man who wanted Jesus to heal his son. What did he say?

And straightway (IMMEDIATELY) the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” Mark 9:24

Confess and leave no room for doubt to grow. He wants us all in.

Anyone who didn’t do what the king decreed, they got threw in the lions den! Daniel did! Most know the ending of the story so no need to tell the rest of it but he lives! Daniel got out alive. Not only alive but he was unharmed and untouched! He was mightily delivered by God Himself. The king had regretted his decision to do this even before he threw Daniel in. He even knew there was something different about him!

When there’s a mark on your life, there’s a difference and the enemy knows it! If he’s after you, you can guarantee it’s because he sees what’s in you. Like the saying goes: “thieves don’t break into empty houses!” The enemy of your soul just wants you to fall for and to believe the lie that he presents to you! You’re a target to him but victorious with God. Like David, we must put on the full armor every single day! We must believe for the outcome that we hope to receive before we see it with our physical eye.

It’s hard not to give thanks when you truly believe that God hears your prayers!

This story reminds me a lot of the world today with all the madness, mandates, threats, shut downs and scare tactics! Am I telling you to go out and be a foolish rebel? No! But I am telling you to make a stand for your faith.

In the famous words of Aaron Tippen:

“Now daddy didn't like trouble, but if it came along

Everyone that knew him knew which side that he'd be on

He never was a hero, or this county's shinin' light

But you could always find him standing up

For what he thought was right

He'd say, "you've got to stand for something

Or you'll fall for anything

You've got to be your own man, not a puppet on a string

Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything"

People may laugh at this and maybe it sounds corny or cliche, but this statement holds so much truth! Stand! The real battle is a spiritual battle rather than physical as it feels and seems. Ephesians 6 tells us this and tells us how to fight and stand the right way. God never said that we wouldn’t battle or that it be easy, but that His grace is sufficient. He didn’t leave us empty handed or without power and tools to fight. He tells us clearly that we will battle, and He also tells us how to! We aren’t to sit on the sidelines but to be prayed up and ready. We must learn what the weapons are and how to correctly use them. We must uphold that name: “Jesus”.

This is why it’s so important to live by the Spirit or we can’t fight right or by the Spirit at all. With flesh alone, we will lose. Again, Ephesians 6 tells us what the war and armor looks like! This is how we win, and it’s not by backing down or giving up or in. And when we have done all that it’s said to do and things still don’t go right, stand resolute or the enemy finds a weak spot and gets the best of you! Quitting never made a win. Compromising is never safe! I am telling you to radically stand for Jesus! We don’t get rewarded for compromising and blending in.

We must be bold and brave! Boldly professing and holding steady! We have Christ in us! This is commitment to the core, we must be sold out to Him. Daniel believed so firmly in what he was doing that he didn’t let a mandate or decree stop him. He had laser focus to do nothing other than what God had called and made him to do. He truly believed in God and what he was doing and standing for.

No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 2 Timothy 2:4-5

All of the stories in the Bible of the brave men and women before us who faced a lot of the same things we are facing today and in life in general, aren’t just stories, but they are truth. They’re there to remind us, teach us, to give us hope, and to encourage us in our faith. They are reminders of Gods faithfulness and requirements. We are them. He is the same. The very same promises of God to them then, are the very same promises today for me and you. He doesn’t change. His Word doesn’t change, the world does. That’s why we must stand firm in Him.

Remember the story of the 3 men in the fire that we learned about in Sunday school? Well, that story somehow really means something to you when you’re under fire and pressure. God protected Daniel just like he did the 3 men in the fire. They weren’t burned, their clothes weren’t singed and they didn’t even come out smelling like smoke! That’s amazing!

Again, you and I are under the same commands and promises of God as Daniel and these men were. A promise comes with a command. We aren’t to fear man, we are to fear God. We can come out on the other side of this thing with a whole new perspective and attitude if we will just be faithful and stand!

There was no doubt and question about Daniel. He didn’t waver. He knew and everyone else knew what side of the fence he was on. He wasn’t a rebel without a cause, he had a purpose and he didn’t back down from what he knew was right and good. He wasn’t belligerent or prideful. He just knew his cause and his why. We must too, or else what do we really stand for? To back out is to already lose out! To have nothing to stand on is to fall. We must stand on the Word of God and His promises. God is good and He can be trusted. He tells us constantly to fear NOT and that means to NOT be intimated by the enemy or his threats. No matter who or what he works through. It’s just a smoke screen and scare tactic. Just like Goliath was to Daniel. The enemy wants you defeated and that’s why it’s important to decide before hand to stand.

We are to follow the law of the land if it doesn’t contradict Gods rule or come against His authority. He tells us to pray. To be anxious for nothing but in every situation to pray and give thanks. Know which side of the fence you are on! Like Daniel and like Joshua, and all the mighty men and women of faith before us. If you read your Bible or even turn on the news, you know that Christians aren’t always looked highly upon and are persecuted quite frequently. It’s no secret unless you’ve been deceived. The Christian walk isn’t all roses and fairytales as we’d like it to be. We were already on the enemies side before we found Christ or before He found me, but now we battle for good. That’s why the Bible says the way is narrow, not easy…. The broad way is the easy way and it leads to all kind of destruction. We must have a made up mind and profess like Joshua did:

“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:14-15

He was sold out too! Confident! Resolute and firm in his commitment. He first decided and then he made a commitment and a proclamation! These are true warriors of faith. It’s important today to know where you stand, why and profess it aloud even if it’s in your own home. Let the enemy know your taking a stand and don’t back down. Be like Joshua, “alright folks, do you what you gotta do but as for me and mine, we will stand and serve God!” It’s time we have some made up minds. We must keep our commitments to God, ourselves and to our families! He paid all. We owe it all to Him.

When a husband and wife make a vow, they not only confess but also profess it aloud before all to know their allegiance and intentions. Of course things happen and not all parties keep their end of the promise every time, but it’s still the same concept. Are we willing to stand like Daniel and Joshua?

We are only to fear God and to keep His commands, not evil and fear or follow it! We follow what we trust and truly believe and fear most. Fear is a liar. God is truth. A house and heart divided cannot stand. If you’re riding the fence, it’s time to make a Stand.

The only way to fight evil is with good, not with the same tactics that the enemy uses. It never works. I’ve tried it many times. It only changes you! Daniel wasn’t doing evil by not complying. In fact, he was doing good in the sight of God! You gotta figure out for you: Please God or please men? Sauls positions was taken from him for this very sin! It is a sin to discredit what God has commanded you to do. Don’t take it lightly. The fear of man is a snare to us.

Because of his unwavering and unswerving faith, Daniel was distinguished above the president and satraps BECAUSE AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT WAS IN HIM, and the king thought to set him over the WHOLE realm. That’s a big deal!!! But it caused those who were under him to be jealous of him and so they looked to find fault in and to accuse him! It didn’t work, and it back fired on them! Kinda like what happened with Hamen in the matter with Esther, Mordecia and the Jews. Everyone won’t be proud for you when you walk in your call and in the way God expects of you. Do it anyway.

The devil is the accuser of the brethren, so if you’re accused for Christ or the gospels sake, count it all joy! You’re a child of the Most High King and under His protection. UNSWERVING commitment and faith will take you to places that compromise can never take or and keep you!

Daniel 6

22 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. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

There’s nothing my God cannot do! He will crush the enemy underfoot but that is why you must stand firm in your faith, or you won’t stand at all!

Have you decided to follow Jesus? Have you determined no matter what?

They couldn’t find any fault in Daniel for he was faithful! You and I must be too! This will cause us to have the same spirit as Daniel! All they could find was his willingness to follow God and not their commands! Fear not! Keep His commands! He will never lead you wrong.

Remember that Joseph was sold out by his own brothers, only to be put over the whole food supply that later saved their lives. Also, Joshua who was courageous and Caleb who was of a different spirit, together led many out of wandering because of their choice to make a stand and trust God, to take Him at His Word, and to not back down. Had they had not made this decision, they would have perished with the rest of them.

Are you willing to be led by fear or faith? The decision is yours today. Decide BEFORE you have to choose. It’s kinda like the man who built his house upon the rock. He decided he’d be firm BEFORE the storms came along, not after? Is this you? Make sure you’re firm, commuted, and established today!

So after all this, the king made another decree. But this time that in all his royal dominion that men must tremble and fear before The God of Daniel! For he stated that He was the living God enduring and steadfast forever. That His Kingdom should not be destroyed and His dominion should be to the end of the world! He stated that He was Savior and Deliverer and that He worked signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth- He Who had delivered Daniel from the power of the lions!

All because Daniel took a stand. What would have happened if he didn’t stand for his faith? It would have not only destroyed him, but wouldn’t have given others an opportunity to see Gods power on his behalf. The same with the story of Queen Esther.

And so Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Roman’s 8:31-32

Song of the day: “Confidence” by Sanctus Real