If there is ever a time in history to be cognizant of those around you and even in your circle, it is now. I believe the enemy is on special assignment to create a hierarchy within society that causes divide, unrest and hurt. I am currently studying the book of Daniel in which King Nebuchadnezzar ordered his court to bring him young Israelite boys so that he could teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. He would assign them daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table and train them for three years to which they would then enter the king’s service. If you have studied the book of Daniel, you may remember that Daniel and his friends refused the king’s food and instead followed the dietary laws in which God had spoken.

Although Daniel was under the power of a king, he still had the wisdom and courage to not fall into the plot of the enemy. “ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

Daniel 1:8. Have you ever walked into a room of “powerful” people by societies standards and felt intimidated? I would encourage you to read Daniel and be inspired by the truth that those who belong to the Kingdom of God truly hold all the glory and power in this fallen world. King Nebuchadnezzar’s ultimate desire was to gain control by trying to conform the youth into his own image. His goal was to re-educate them, re-shape them and re-program them to his way of thinking which would eventually erase God and fill them with the Babylonian culture. Does this sound familiar in today’s world? It should. We live in a Babylonian society marked by luxury, extravagance and the pursuit of sensual desires. Daniel stood without compromise or fear because he knew he belonged to the King of kings and the ample opportunity for him to fall into error was no match for the man He was in Christ.

Are you able to stand on your convictions, fight for what is right and say no to the things the enemy has sent to divert your destiny? Are you searching for things of this world to gain power and notoriety or are you digging in your heels into the foundation of God’s truths and promises? Friend, you can chase after the flashy things all your life, but the light of Jesus truly is the only thing worth grasping on to. A wise woman told me recently, “Being wealthy is not an honor unless you have honor”. You can truly have all the fame and fortune this world has to offer, but if you don’t treat others with the love of Jesus then your treasures on earth will never bring about the ultimate treasure of Heaven. “ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”

Matthew 6:19-20.

Daniel teaches us to serve faithfully in the middle of a crazy world and preserve hope even with we are standing alone. I encourage you this week to read the Book of Daniel (God is my judge) and pray that God reveal to you the beautiful lessons to be learned from the prophetic teachings, the dreams, the fiery furnace and even in the pits of the lion’s den. Dare to be a Daniel in a sinful world craving power and see just how many treasures God will lay at your feet.

“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2.

Blessings,

Kayla