Study 5
by Charles Tan
Text: Daniel 1:8-21
Dear Young People,
“DANIEL PURPOSED IN HIS HEART” Daniel 1:8
Many of us with all sincerity desire to walk worthy of the Lord. However, in the course of time, we find ourselves losing ground and we appear to be unable to sustain our commitment to walk with the Lord.
Our hearts are heavy when we look at how dismally we fail. We are angry with ourselves for not being able to keep our promises to God. We sometimes end up so discouraged that we almost do not want to try anymore!
How did Daniel succeed where we failed? What was his secret? Perhaps, the answer to spiritual success lies in today’s Bible passage (Did you take time to read the text for today)?
Over and against all odds set against him, Daniel did an important thing. He “purposed in his heart” that he would learn from the mistake that his forbears made. They had defiled themselves because of compromise, and thus sin crept into their lives. The nation of Israel had collapsed because there was no integrity to keep one’s promise to God! Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not allow himself to fall into the same pattern of sin!
HOW STRONG WILLED ARE YOU?
Most of us are quite strong-willed people. However, we tend to be strong-willed for the wrong reasons, and in the wrong directions. When we choose to sin, when we choose to follow our friends to do wrong things, we are showing that we are very strong willed people. It takes as strong a will to do wrong, as it does to do right!
The nation of Israel had chosen not to listen to the prophets sent by God. They had resolutely rejected all that the prophets had taught. They were very strong willed and determined when they cast aside their faith in God to follow idolatrous ways.
Daniel decided within his heart that he too would exercise a strong will. He decided and thus he purposed in his heart that “he would not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8). If eating the delicacies sent by the king would cause him to compromise his faith, and thus defile himself, he would risk offending the king by saying “No, thank you.”
If we really want to succeed in our walk with the Lord, it is important that beginning right now we cultivate a strong will that is determined to do right by God.
PRACTISE BEING A MAN OF YOUR WORDS
How can we cultivate our character in such a way that we end up having a very strong will? It is important to develop being a man who keeps his word. Do not make too many promises that you know you cannot keep. If you have ever made a promise to anyone, plan to keep that promise always.
Did you make a promise to the Lord? Plan to keep that promise to God! When you practise keeping your promises to God, you would soon be on your way to developing a strong will… and one that will be honouring to the Lord. The Lord will test your heart to see what kind of a person you really are. Plan to pass all your tests!