In uncertain times while in captivity, Daniel, a Jewish man, lived in the king’s palace. Daniel’s history is in the book of Daniel in the Bible. He had to adjust to troubling circumstances. He was taken from his home and forced to serve a foreign ruler in a strange land. These people worshiped idols and had strange customs. They did not know or respect the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Daniel did not have the luxury of prayer groups and Bible studies or a pastor to counsel him. What did he do to strengthen his walk with the Lord? Daniel remembered his upbringing in the Word of God, the Old Testament covenant, and trusted God alone. And Daniel made a commitment to pray every day as he had been taught as a child. The people around him were not pleased with his behavior. They wanted him to assimilate into their culture and worship false gods. In the end, Daniel was thrown into a lions’ den because he dared to worship God instead of the king! Daniel could have changed his mind and bowed to the king like all the others, but he refused to follow acts of idolatry because his faith in the Lord was strong. It was so strong that Daniel told them that his God could rescue him from the mouth of hungry lions. How does this relate to our walk with God? No one asks us to bow to a king. But the world does pressure us to become like them in our words and actions. It is easy to compromise and fit into their set of ideals either at work, in sports, what movies we watch, or in neighborhood gatherings. Daniel stood out among the people around him. They witnessed this humble man’s strong commitment to the living God. The watched as Daniel refused to compromise his beliefs. Are you willing to take a stand for Jesus when those around you are not? You will stand out. You may be persecuted. Like Daniel, God gives us opportunities to be a witness for Him, and it requires a strong walk of faith. Daniel did not fear man; he feared God. Strengthen your walk with God by feeding on His promises and through daily prayer. God will help you overcome every difficult situation. Daniel was thrown to the lions and left there overnight. In the morning, the king cried out to Daniel, servant of the living God, to see if his God had rescued him. Daniel answered, “My God sent His angel to shut the lions’ mouth so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in His sight” (Daniel 6:22). The king had Daniel’s accusers thrown into the den and the lions devoured them. After witnessing a miracle, the king declared his faith in the living God. Daniel trusted God with his life. He was unwilling to fit in and compromise his faith. When the Lord intervened miraculously on his behalf, Daniel gave all the glory to Him, “He rescues and saves His people; He performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and earth” (Daniel 6:27). Our strong faith in God and our commitment not to conform to the world’s standards or bow to false gods will be a witness to others. God’s power is displayed in wonderful ways when we trust Him with our lives. Your walk with God will be strong as you commit to reading the Word, standing in faith, and to prayer.
