Daniel

Today I read Daniel, chapter 1. This was the introduction to Daniel, and how he became one of King Nebuchadnezzar's advisers. One thing in particular really stuck out to me.

" But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods." Daniel 1:8

Daniel was a man of God. He placed God first and foremost- even when choosing his meals. Daniel was Jewish, so his reasons for turning down the Kings food was likely due to the food not being approved for Jews to eat. Daniel was living in the King's palace, and being offered the richest and the finest food and wine to eat and drink, and he turned it down to place God first. Instead, he ate vegetables and drank water. God was Daniel's first priority, and as a result, God blessed Daniel, and Daniel thrived and flourished on his vegetables and water.

Daniel put God first. He took a stand- and not the last one he would take in his life. He committed his life first and foremost to the King of Heaven- before the Kings on this earth. We can use Daniel as an example for setting God first in our lives. When God is our first priority- imagine how things will fall into place. All of Daniel's decisions were based on his commitment to God- he refused to defile himself by consuming food and drink that was forbidden to him. He made up his mind to please God first, and stuck to it. Do we do that? Do we please God by not defiling ourselves? No matter what the issue is- lying, cheating, watching movies we shouldn't, spending money that isn't ours to spend. When we choose God first, those bad habits will fall to the wayside, and our life will reflect the decision we've made to put God first.

Daniel chose to stick with God, and in return, God stuck with Daniel in everything. By choosing God first, God will also stick with us- through thick and thin.