I believe we all desire to fly high as eagles in our endeavors but before we can learn how to fly, we must learn how to stand for something. Let’s look at it from this perspective, before an aircraft can take off, it must gain ground to facilitate a momentum that will thrust it to soar high right! The same is also pivotal for us, we must learn how to gain ground by having a stand for something. Have a stand for morality, for values, for character and the word of God even if nobody else believes it. At the end of the day, if you don’t stand for something you will easily fall for anything.
Let’s take a journey at the book of Daniel 1:8-15 (NKJV) But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”
11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” 14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.
From the above context of Scripture, we have four young promising Jews who had been selected during the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar on the basis they didn’t have any blemish, they were good looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessed knowledge, they were quick to understand and they had the capacity to serve in the King’s palace after three years of training. I mean, these young men were among the select few who qualified to be taught the language of the Chaldeans, they had the liberty to indulge in the king’s delicacies which was set aside for them but despite the luxuries which had been accorded to them and even the change of their names, they had a stand on what they believed in.
It’s never a walk in the park to have a stand when most people are influenced to think in a certain way and do things in a way that collide with what you believe in. In today’s age, we have the liberty to indulge in whatever the world is offering but God is calling us out to rely on Him by standing on His kingdom principles. At a click of a button when nobody is watching, you can expose yourself to anything that can offer you temporal satisfaction, you can bribe your way to the top since that’s has become the way of life to most people and fit in the pews. However, do you desire to fit in or stand out for God’s glory?
The wisdom of this world cannot be compared with the wisdom God wants you and I to operate in! James 3:17 (AMP) But the wisdom from above is first pure (morally and spiritually undefiled), then peace-loving (courteous, considerate), gentle, reasonable (and willing to listen), full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without (self-righteous) hypocrisy (and self-serving guile). The wisdom Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah possessed could not be equated with the wisdom of the magicians and astrologers in Babylon. Daniel 1:20 (NKJV) And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.
What you believe in, is what should earmark your choices to align with God’s will upon your life and not people’s opinions. Opinions pull and push at us while convictions will ground us. The Babylonians had their own opinions and belief systems which contradicted with what Daniel and his three friends believed in but Daniel’s convictions, is what gave him and his three friends boldness to have a stand that distinguished them from the rest of the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.
Are you aware convictions will always override men’s opinions? Be bold enough to stand for what you believe in and God will honor you by setting you apart. Following God’s will through conviction is what made Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah be ten times better.
Are you aware convictions will always override men’s opinions? Be bold enough to stand for what you believe in and God will honor you by setting you apart. Following God’s will through conviction is what made Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah be ten times better.
Standing out is learning how to be different by intentionally having a stand that glorifies the integrity of God, as His vessel here on Earth. Having a stand will give you godly boldness and confidence to say “ I don’t think in a certain way, I don’t go to certain places, I don’t have to respond in a certain way and I don’t do some stuff because it’s the trend.” Have a stand and God will back you up.
Let your convictions be shaped by Scriptures and these convictions will filter out opinions that are drawing you away from the will of God. When people are settling out for bribes to have their way, may you obtain favor with God and man to walk in what others have labored for years to walk in. When people are busy using manipulation to win approval from men, may you be so busy seeking after the heart of the King of Kings who will set you up.
Only God and God alone distinguished Daniel and his three friends from the high and mighty in Babylon. Get this from me my beloved, only God has the capacity and power to establish you in such a mighty way that will make you a crown of glory in this generation. Only God alone will create for you a seat you don’t deserve at the table with Kings and only God will give you divine strategies that will solve problems that have plagued this generation.Have a stand for something and give God room to show forth His glory through you.
Love ReinaBeaty.
