But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. (Daniel 1:8, New International Version)

 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. (Daniel 6:10, New International Version)

Theme:  The Wisdom of Discipline

Title:  Discipline and Durability

Reflection:

Daniel was a prophet in exile for approximately 70 years.  Taken captive to Babylon as a young man, Daniel was thrust into a foreign culture where he was pressured to abandon his faith and adopt Babylonian customs.  Over the course of his exile, his faith did not waiver and God honored his faithfulness.  He is a prime example of someone who maintained his discipline even under tremendous pressure.

In our Scripture passages today, we see Daniel’s durable dedication to his faith in God.  The time gap between Daniel’s refusal to eat the King’s food in Daniel Chapter 1 and his refusal to stop praying in Daniel Chapter 6 is likely around 60 years.  Over this span of decades, we see clear indications of a disciplined lifestyle.  Daniel negotiated to eat only vegetables and drink water instead of enjoying the king’s cuisine as a youth.  Prayer was so much a part of his daily life that he continued praying under the threat of death and was placed in the lions’ den as a mature man.  His discipline was durable.    

Conclusion:

Daniel teaches us that discipline can be maintained even when we are pressured to conform to the world around us for many years.  No doubt, the durability of Daniel’s discipline contributed to the durability of his faith.  Do you find that pressure pushes you towards or away from discipline?  What lessons do you take from Daniel’s life?  I would love to hear from you.

Contributor: Karen Christie