Are You Resolute? - Daniel

When Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.

Daniel 6:10

During some of the most difficult days of World War II, British prime minister Winston Churchill made one of the toughest decisions of the war. When British intelligence learned that the Germans planned to bomb the city of Coventry, Churchill found himself with a simple yet terrible choice: evacuate the city and save hundreds of lives (but risk tipping off the Germans that the British had broken their communication code), or do nothing and allow hundreds of people to die (but keep the secret safe). Churchill, resolute as always, chose the welfare of his entire nation and allowed the enemy to bomb Coventry.

In a similar way, God calls you to be a resolute man who refuses to compromise the well-being of your family or the dignity of your work or ministry even when you face hard choices.

The Old Testament prophet Daniel knew the importance of remaining resolute in difficult times. His enemies had duped King Darius into creating a law that outlawed all forms of worship except worship of the king. The penalty for breaking the law was death at the jaws of hungry lions. Daniel, too, faced a terrible but simple choice: either worship Darius and live, or continue faithfully praying to God and risk becoming an evening snack for the lions.

Daniel loved God, so he refused to bow in worship before a man. In fact, when Daniel first heard of the new law, he headed directly to his room and bowed before God in fervent prayer. His enemies observed his defiance and had him thrown into the lions’ den. God honored Daniel’s resolute faithfulness and delivered him from death. Daniel didn’t receive so much as a scratch.

What temptations are whispered in your ears that would compromise your faithfulness to God? Name them. Create and execute a plan for remaining resolute in your commitment to God, no matter what.