And now I think it's time to move on into our daily devotional. Yes. We are on day three of unshaken.
Discipline today.
So far we've had identity and faithfulness. Correct. So today is discipline. This is from unshaken on you version. Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs
had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
Test your servants for 10 days.
Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.
Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths
who eat the king's food be observed by you
and deal with your servants according to what you see.
So he listened to them in this matter
and tested them for 10 days. At the end of 10 days, it was seen
that they were in better appearance and fatter in flesh
than all the youth who ate the king's food.
So the steward took away the food and the wine they
were to drink and gave them vegetables.
As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill
in all literature and wisdom.
And Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
At the end of the time when the king had commanded
that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs
brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
And the king spoke with them.
And among all of them, none was found like Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
Therefore they stood before the king.
And in every matter of wisdom and understanding
about which king inquired of them,
he found them 10 times better than all the magicians
and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.
That was in Daniel 1, 11 through 20. I always wonder sometimes if Daniel's friends gave in
to the culture at some point,
because by the time they're in the furnace,
they're no longer Mishael, Hananiah, and Azariah.
Those are the Greek names.
Daniel's is the only one that continued
to be called Daniel all the way through. Good question. I don't know. Daniel and his friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
also known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
had to go through an intense training of Babylonian culture
that lasted three years.
The discipline found within their studying also echoed
within their spiritual life.
In response to the king's orders,
they willingly did a 10 day fast
of only eating vegetables and water.
They went in not knowing what God would do,
but believed that God could do abundantly more
if they chose to honor him. In Matthew 1820, we're reminded for where two
or three are gathered in my name, there I am among you.
These four friends exemplified what it means
to truly be anchored in whose they are.
They visibly displayed that God was on their side
and as a result of their risky faith,
God honored them with visions and dreams of all kinds.
God gave knowledge and understanding
in natural and supernatural ways.
Results do not happen overnight. It often requires discipline.
In weight training, it's a painful process
as old muscles are torn down and new muscles are rebuilt.
In these verses, we see four friends go through
displaying great discipline together.
Additionally, they held each other accountable
to their true identity as people chosen by God.
As a result, God provided a unique favor and anointing. Mm-hmm, maybe something to think about, what area of your life
do you need more discipline?
Over the next seven days, consider embarking on a fast.
That's something that our pastor has also asked us to do.
Ask God to help reveal ways to develop more discipline
within your life.
Discipline is kind of hard to obtain.
I mean, it takes work.
Discipline usually includes sacrifice
and that is the first step towards gaining anything
in God's favor as we must first give up.
Mm-hmm, something. Right. So he gave us the ultimate sacrifice.
We should have a little discipline to give him our first fruits
and to fast and to do these things for him.
We should all be able to, but it's tough.
It is. So hang in there as we go seven more days
through this 10 day devotional. Dear God, thank you so much for the reminder
that we need discipline.
Day in and day out, little things and big.
But Lord, especially in the small things,
help us to be disciplined and true to you.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
