Dare to be a Daniel

I once heard a quote that said, "If you stand when it hurts, you won't hurt for your stand." Daniel lived out this quote repetitively in his lifetime. He took a stand when everyone else was eating the king's meat. He took a stand and told the king the meaning of his dreams when it could have resulted in his death. He took a stand to continue to pray to his God when Darius had decreed that everyone only worship him. Over and over we see Daniel standing up for his God. There's not doubt that he faced ridicule, hurt, and rejection, but God was with him through it all and blessed him because of the stand he took.

Simeon and I have been reading Daniel 6 this week. This chapter tells of King Darius' decree that the people only worship him, of Daniel's stand to keep praying for God, and of God's deliverance of Daniel when he was cast into the lion's den. Daniel is an amazing Bible character, and we can learn so much from studying his life.

The Bible does not write about these people so that we can idolize them and think of them as super-humans. The Bible writes about them so that we can learn from their lives. We can learn so much from the life of Daniel.

How often to we take a stand for our Lord? Daniel stood even though he faced death, yet we waver when we think someone might laugh at what we have to say. Opportunities come into our lives every day to stand for our God and make Him know to others, and our reaction is to cower and decide to let someone else witness to the cashier or knock on a door or pray with our neighbor.

We are on the brink of a new year. I want to determine to dare to be a Daniel! As the popular children's Sunday school song says. . .

Dare to be a Daniel, 

Dare to stand alone!

Dare to have a purpose firm!

Dare to make it known.

Let's purpose in our hearts just as Daniel did to stand even though it may hurt, and I promise that you won't hurt for your stand! God will bless you for standing up for Him!

All for His Glory,
Brettnay Varner