"But Daniel resolved
that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he
asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself. Now God allowed
Daniel to receive favor and compassion from the palace master" (Daniel
1:8-9).
Daniel was constantly
pressured and pressed by the world around him. He was a stranger in a foreign
land, constantly called on to conform to its religious practices and cultural
customs. And where those conflicted with his conscience, he pressed back. It
deeply mattered to him to be "found faithful" to You (1 Corinthians 4:2,
NKJ).
And as Daniel pressed
back, You covered his back. As he stood his ground, You stood by him. You gave
him grace and favor even with those who did not know his God or understand his
ways. "For You bless the righteous, O Lord; You cover them with favor as with a
shield" (Psalm 5:12).
Lord, I pray for a
heart like Daniel, with sensitivity of conscience to Your heart and Your ways,
with confidence and courage to stand my ground wherever You call me to refuse to
yield to the pressures of the world. I pray for the wisdom to know which battles
to fight and which stands to take. And I pray for Your grace and favor to go
before me and be upon me in every relationship and every encounter - not on the
basis of my righteousness, but on the basis of Yours that makes the way for Your
grace and favor in my life (2 Corinthians 5:21). In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love
of Jesus, Tommy
Hays
Friends, please keep us in prayer as Sylvia and I preach and
minister at St. Andrew United Methodist Church this Sunday with good friends
Pastor Rob and Vicki Hughes ( http://www.welcometostandrew.com ). The next two
weeks, we'll be speaking and ministering in Georgia, South Carolina, and North
Carolina. Please come join us if you can and spread the word ( www.messiah-ministries/events ).
Be empowered, equipped, and encouraged to fulfill your destiny
in Christ!
Tommy & Sylvia Hays | Messiah Ministrieswww.messiah-ministries.org
