A Prayer About Gospel Resolve
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine. Daniel 1:8
Heavenly Father, the older I get the more I find myself intrigued, convicted and encouraged-all at the same time, as I ponder Daniel’s life. Oh, may the gospel free me to live and love as this man did-with freedom, passion, conviction, wisdom and hope.
I remember, as a young gospel-lite believer, reading the Book of Daniel as a survival manual for individual believers in a scary godless world. But that’s not the way you wrote the book. You wrote Daniel as a testimony to your commitment to redeem a people for yourself from the nations (including Babylon) and to bring your transforming love to bear in the community and culture… wherever you send your people (including Babylon). It’s amazing how the gospel + time affects everything, including how I read and understand your Word…
Now as I think about Daniel and the gospel, here’s my prayer: Father, help me make the kinds of commitments Daniel made so I can live as an instrument of your transforming presence where you’ve placed me. The world will “squeeze me into its mold” unless I’m being transformed by the truth of the gospel.
In particular, keep me wise to the particular “defilements” that wage war against my heart and your story-not just the things in “Babylon,” but the things in my own un-glorified heart. Oh how I wish my only challenge was my external world! The things around me just tend to ignite the lust and greed within me…
Now that I think about it, Father, probably the best way I can “resolve not to defile myself with the royal food and the wine” of the wrong kingdom is by resolving to feast regularly upon the royal food and wine of King Jesus, and his everlasting kingdom!
Lord Jesus, how I praise you for the bread and the cup of the New Covenant, and the other means of grace, you have so graciously given me. Indeed, as the Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more. As the giver of the Water of Life, slake my thirst that I might live and love as Daniel did-with freedom, passion, conviction, wisdom and hope. So very Amen, I pray, in your loving and holy name.
