Daniel, He Purposed in His Heart

Daniel is a perfect example of someone who determines to walk with God and keeps on that lane throughout. There is no mention of any failure in the character and walk with God in Daniel which I find a bit strange because most of the great men and women who God used had one or few issues that waylaid them, but for Daniel all we see is excellence portrayed by a godly character. This flawless portrayal of Daniel at times makes it hard for many people to relate with him but a careful study of the book shows that the focal point is not Daniel’s character or details of his life and how he conducted his life but rather the sovereignty of God over all nations.


Daniel might have had his failures but they are not recorded in the book. The main thing is what he did when he realized that he was in a foreign nation, a nation that did not worship the true God, chose to draw a moral line.

It is stated in Daniel 1:8 that Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the king’s portion. After this decision we see how God moved in swiftly by showing himself great on behalf of Daniel and his three friends. All that Daniel had to do was decide which side of truth was he to stand on and God did the rest. Daniel survived four regimes and in all these he was a government official, a foreigner yet remaining under employment of the government.

I believe that God can and has been accomplishing His plans through people regardless of whether they are surrendered to Him or not but when one surrenders to God, he or she becomes part of God’s accomplishment. It has to begin at some point and the point is surrender.

Babylon offered enticements which if looked upon carefully were a snare to the soul. The food was sacrificed to idols hence one became part of the worship if they partook the food consciously, this was a paper cut to the soul, an entry point of sensuality and loss of self-control.

Many people have missed the mark, have failed to attain that which God created them to do simply because they could not tame their appetites. Many have opened doors that have led to addictions and bondages that are now hard to come out of simply because they failed to tame their appetites. The enemy of our soul is after your and my appetite, he knows that in order to veer us off the course of the God intended life that we should pursue he has to master our hungers and passions. This has been a trap to many, giants have fallen, kings dethroned, nations destroyed, destinies hampered and lives lost both in antiquity and in our current time.

Thankfully it is possible to tame your appetites. Joseph did it, Daniel too was able to tame it hence you too can do it through the help of God. Through the grace of our Lord we are able to say no to all ungodliness, we are able to draw the line of dependence of God. If you have not opened any door to appetites that will lead you to bondage dare to be a Daniel by drawing the moral line. For those who have opened doors to the enemy of our soul and are currently in bondage, our God is sovereign and is able to bring you out of the bondage, He says come to me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest. The rest that Christ assures us can never be offered by anyone else, He is willing and ready to set you free from bondage. May the Lord give you strength to say no to the lures that entangle, may He give you the strength to come out and be a testimony to others.