Daniel 1:8-9, 15-20. But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself….. At the end of ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food. So the overseer continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables. As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams. Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hanahiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s personal service. As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm.
Four young men. From seemingly charmed lives in Jerusalem. Then a foreign king captures their land and takes them captive. They are to be groomed for his personal use. First choice they are confronted with: be angry at their God or continue to be obedient? They chose obedience and were rewarded for it. Notice that instead of becoming depressed, rebellious, righteously angry…..any of those sinful responses, they accepted the fact that I had allowed this and chose to remain faithful and obedient to Me. That is a choice that you face daily. You don’t understand the insanity that surrounds you. You don’t understand why you are in the middle of such evil. You don’t understand why I don’t just quash it this instant and impose my rule in your world. But that is the key: you don’t understand. And you won’t. So your choice is: accept My decisions and remain faithful, obedient, trusting – or – be petulant, angry, depressed and seek self-gratification or, perhaps worse, obedience to the evil surrounding you. A choice every minute of every day. Will you trust Me? Will you remain faithful and obedient to My Word? Will you reject the evil – all of it in as much as you are able? Will you stand for Truth and true Justice and what is good and true? Or will you take the easy way out (for now) and capitulate to those who, at the moment, hold the power? Look at these four youths. They were young men. But they were wise beyond their physical years. They were faithful and true. And because they chose that path, I rewarded them. I granted them intelligence and wisdom and courage and strength – everything they needed to withstand the powers that had control of their physical lives. That’s the key: their physical lives. Nebuchadnezzar had no control over their minds, their spirits, their souls – not even over their emotions. His commanders could not force these four young men to commit their eternal souls to their king. So it is with you. There are those who can control your surroundings. They can control your movements. They can control your physical freedom. Yet, they have no real ability to control YOU. They can only control your thoughts, your feelings, your beliefs, your allegiances insofar as you allow them to. Do not allow it. I will give you all you need to withstand. I will give you all you need to stand strong. I will give you all you need to remain faithful to Me, to My Word, to My Truth. I will give you all you need to remain unscathed in the fire – in the ways that are important. Your eternity, your inner peace, your character – those I will protect. They are what matters. So, Child, trust Me. Cling to Me. Life is tumultuous at the moment, and it will be much more so very soon. Your feet are planted on solid ground. Remain so. Under My Wings. In My Arms. Surrounded by My Angels. Fight the good fight. Stay true. Your enemy knows he can only harm, damage, wound you in the temporal. He has no power over what is essential: your soul, your faith, your eternity. Those are – and will remain – in My Hands. Trust Me, Child. I will not fail.
Amanuensis 