The Power of a Resolute Life

I know it's almost 3 months past New Year's, but i want to take some time to extol the virtue and power of a resolute Life.

Dan 1:8 But Daniel resolved.

Resolve…

1 - to come to a definite or earnest decision about; 

2 - firmness of purpose or intent; determination. determine (to do something)

3 - a resolution

(dictionary.com) 

Res·o·lute  - "Admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering".

Daniel's life has always been fascinating to me. As a young man he is taken into captivity. He is chosen as one of the finest, fittest and smartest. He rises up the ranks of this new, foreign nation - ultimately becoming one of the decisions makers in the country of his captivity.

And what was the reward for his excellence in working hard and serving both God and man? He is set up by his associates and sentenced to death. Death by lions.

You can read the whole story in Daniel 6 (and you should), but suffice it to say that Daniel is set up by his fellow workers to disobey the reigning King by continuing his custom of daily prayer to His God. In the end, God rescues Daniel from the lion's den by sending an angel to shut up the mouths of the huge, hungry felines and his accusers become the lion's breakfast instead.

Let me make a quick, but important statement to bring application to this story. I want to suggest that Daniel did not make his choice to stay faithful to God about his prayer life the day the "no prayer" edict came into effect. Daniel had made his decision many years before when ... "Daniel resolved" to honour the Lord with his life.

Allow me to further say that many hours of internal intrigue, worthless worry and antithetical anguish could be done away with if we would simply resolve now what our life values and guiding principles would be. In reality, most of our life choices would already be made for us if we lived by the power of a resolute life.

At the risk of conjuring up flannel graph images and Sunday schools songs from years ago, why don't you decide today to - "Dare to be a Daniel"