Rev. Dr. Stephen Jennings in a recent message spoke about certain characteristics that Daniel as a servant of the Most High Living God had. One of those characteristics is character.  Daniel was a man of character and substance. He had a moral and spiritual presence that stood out like a star-studded sky at night. Daniel had always sought to allow the Lord to provide moral clarity, sensitivity for every situation he found himself in.  From we first meet Daniel in Daniel chapter one we find a young man not willing to defile himself even as he learned how to survive in the alien system. He reflected the truth that he was ‘in the world but not of the world’.  He had some core principles (emotionally intelligence, discernment, trustworthy, honest, fair, God-fearing etc) that marked him.  With his obedience God granted him extraordinary wisdom, understanding, visions, dreams and interpretations and made him ten times better than the best. 

Daniel 6 provides us with another classic example where Daniel’s character shone.  Daniel’s fellow coworkers tried to find grounds for charges to be laid against Daniel regarding his official conduct but could find no “corruption in him because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent”.  What a testimony!!! God wants us as his people to have character that can stand out in a world of corruption, mistrust and negligence.  God wants us to demonstrate the difference He makes in our lives to the world wherever we end up spending our waking hours. 

What was the secret behind the man Daniel?  Daniel’s character was built on the foundation of prayer. He prayed three times a day, rain or shine, law or no law.   Prayer for Daniel was conversation with the Most High Sovereign Living God who had the power to transform every situation of bad news into good news. God wants to use us like Daniel but in order for him to use us we must be willing to submit to the leading and teaching of Almighty God.  This can only happen when we ask, keep on seeking and knocking and entering into the presence of Almighty God and know Him for who He is.  When we do that God will give us the Divine Blueprint of how to operate in systems that are oppressive.  God’s Word will become our compass as we navigate through the situations we find ourselves in, so that “no corruption” is found in us. 

Ask yourself, the question, “What has God called me to continue to do despite the potential danger that lies in wait?  Know that it is better to obey God than men (Acts 3:19). Pray until you get clearance and then act.

PRAYER

God give me the courage of Daniel so that I maybe marked by your character living inside of me no matter what.  Teach me to pray and fill me with your Divine core principles and Blueprint that will help me navigate through this world of sin.     Through the name of your Son seated at your right hand, Jesus Christ. Amen.