Daniel 1:11-14 (Click to read NIV or select your preferred translation of the Bible. Please read the scripture first.) When the king’s guard was concerned for his own safety as well as Daniel’s life because of Daniel’s refusal to eat the kings food, Daniel exercised great wisdom. Rather than taking a defiant stand against eating the king’s food, he negotiated a proposal that turned the situation into a temporary test case. We would benefit from following Daniel’s example of resistance through
Daniel 1:8-10 (Click to read NIV or select your preferred translation of the Bible. Please read the scripture first.) Daniel was prepared to take a stand. He knew what foods God had forbidden his people to eat. Daniel was not willing to sacrifice his principles to please the king. Daniel’s decision to refuse the king’s food could have caused him to be executed, but he would not compromise God’s commands. Daniel’s decision to not partake these foods came out of
Daniel 1:3-7 (Click to read NIV or select your preferred translation of the Bible. Please read the scripture first.) Daniel and his three friends did not seek to be chosen to serve the king, but they were selected because they met the qualifications the king was looking for. They along with all the other young men who were selected were treated like royalty and were in training to serve the Babylonian king. Daniel was given a new name, Belteshazzar, and
Daniel 1:1-2 (Click to read NIV or select your preferred translation of the Bible. Please read the scripture first.) God is patient and long-suffering. Yet he will do what he says he will do. The people had taken God’s patience for granted until even God’s patience had run out. God’s covenant with King David and with Solomon was “I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this
Psalm 141:1-4 (Click to read NIV or select your preferred translation of the Bible. Please read the scripture first.) This Psalm is written by David. It is a good prayer to use to start any day. Verses 1 & 2 express the intimacy that David felt when he talked with the LORD in prayer. I love how David anticipates that God sees his prayers like incense rising up to him. David is not hesitant to lift up his hands to the God in prayer.