But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine. Dan. 1:8
Dear heavenly Father, the older I get, the more I’m encouraged by the life of Daniel and his exiled friends. May the gospel bring us greater freedom to live and love as this man did—with passion, conviction, worship, and hope. I am so attracted to Daniel’s heart—filled with delight and confidence in you; even as I’m convicted by his lifestyle—seeking first your kingdom in the most unlikely of places and with the most formidable odds against him.
I used to read the book of Daniel as a survival manual for life in a scary, godless world. But that’s not the way you wrote the book. I now realize that Daniel is a testimony to your commitment to redeem your people from all the nations, including Babylon. Indeed, you have covenanted to bring the transforming power of the gospel to bear wherever you send your people, including Babylon. One Day the knowledge of your glory will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. I wish I’d understood this sooner, but better now than never.
With a better understanding of the gospel, here’s my prayer: Increase our appetite for the royal food and wine only King Jesus can give us. May the banquet of grace cause all other buffets to seem like Cracker Jacks and cold okra. Intensify our thirst for the water of life. Give us an insatiable hunger for the manna of your eternal glory and everlasting love. Help us make the kinds of commitments Daniel made so we can live as an instruments of your transforming presence where you’ve placed us—communing regularly with you throughout the day; loving prayer more than we love the praise of men; walking with a gospel posse like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These things merit nothing, but they profit eternally.
And make us wise to the particular “defilements” that wage war against our hearts and your glory—not just the things in “Babylon,” but the things in the dark continent of our hearts. I wish I only had to be concerned about the things outside of me. But the things around me just expose and ignite the lust and greed that still are present within me. Because I’m no longer condemned for my sins, I can be ruthless in putting to death the things that wage war against my soul. I choose to do so today. By faith, I choose to do so.
Father, my confidence is not in my self-resolve, but in the truth, power and grace of the gospel. May I live this one day to the praise of your glory and grace. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus merciful and mighty name.