A Daily Devotional with David Olatona
Main Text
Daniel 1:1-21
Watchword
Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.
Daniel 1:9 NKJV
This text reveals that God can and does affect outcomes. God can and also affect the minds and hearts of people to bring about His will. The dedication of Daniel and his friends can be summed up in two words, faith and obedience. They were willing to trust God to do what He had promised, and they were willing to follow Him, regardless of the personal cost. What about you? Trust God always, if you need to make a stand for righteousness, but are afraid of the outcome (Proverbs 29:25).
Every time we obey God, He compensates us for our faithfulness. As the life of Daniel shows, the compensations from the Lord will far outweigh the costs, not only in this life, but in the life to come as well (Daniel 12:2-3). The compensation is as follows:
*He enjoyed a special fellowship with God.(Daniel 6:10)
*He enjoyed a special favor that God continually gave to him in the presence of, those who held great power over men. (Daniel 6:3)
*He enjoyed a special force of God’s presence in his life. What I mean by that is Daniel’s life was a force to be reckoned with for the Lord; his short time here upon the earth was not a wasted life (Daniel 5:11-14).
As believers, in these days of increasing challenges to our faith, we need to be like Daniel who will not allow the world to mold us into its image. We must be willing to hold to our convictions, regardless of the challenges or the consequences for doing so (Ephesians 6:10-11). Nothing could be greater than to have the Lord use your life to be a force for Him while you are among the living. Let your life make impact for Jesus (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
Confession
Oh Lord, You encompass me with favor like a shield. Everywhere I go, in everything I do, I am favored by You!”
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to always stand for You FIRST when I am faced with tough situations, and to also that you are always near. Amen.
Additional Reading
Isaiah 43:2
Proverbs 16:7