A Boy Named Daniel
August 15, 2012 | By: Cristiane Cardoso | Posted in: Behavior, Spiritual Growth, Strength, Youth
There once was a boy named Daniel. He was young but mature for his age. He was also handsome and his intelligence was admirable. His story began on one of the saddest days of his life. The new king was evil, he invaded Israel and named himself the king of the country. This being so, he forced all of the young men, like Daniel, to serve him in his palace. The new decree did not allow anyone the right to choose: all of his dreams and plans, as well as all of his family, were ripped out of his life so that he could serve the king (who wasn’t that big of a deal) exclusively.
Daniel was taken to the king’s palace along with thousands of other young men who were in his same situation. But Daniel differed from the majority- he believed in God and he lived his belief daily. That drastic change in lifestyle was a great threat to his faith in God, for almost nobody practiced the same faith- with the exception of three friends that were taken with him: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Read what Daniel did with respect to the threat against his faith:
“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)
In order to protect his Faith, Daniel was radical to the point of even avoiding what the king liked to eat, for it was a protocol that he would have to live by because he lived under the same roof as the king. His superior in the palace was shocked by such request and immediately responded:
“But the official told Daniel,”I am afraid of m lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” (Daniel 1.10)
And Daniel responded:
“ Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see. So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.” (Daniel 1. 12-15)
When someone prioritizes their faith, God honors them- that’s the way it is. With only vegetable and water, Daniel and his three friends were stronger than the other young men that ate the best of the king’s table.
The matter here is not the simple fact that Daniel didn’t want to eat the king’s food, it was that he didn’t want to contaminate himself with the new culture that the king was imposing on him. Daniel didn’t want to lose his personality and faith, even if he lost everything else when he was taken to the palace.
When a person has this kind of faith, she can go through hell itself, even so, she will shine.
I’m in the faith of the Daniel’s Fast that started on the 12th, how about you?
Cristiane Cardoso
Author of the books "Better than a new pair of shoes", "V woman" and "Casamento Blindado" (Bulletproof Marriage). Founder of "Godllywood" and "Rahab Project". Presenter of "The Love School" at Rede Record.
Hey Miss Chris, I’m also in this Faith of 21 days which started the 13 here in the USA. Even though it has only been a couple of days since the fasting started, I can already see changes. My house is actually a lot more organized , I find more time to do things for my family and myself! I didnt realize how much one can accomplish within 24 hours ! This also means that I have a lot more time to do things of God. My prayers are longer, I take my time to meditate on what I read in the Bible, Bishop’s Blog etc. It has been a blessing !
Ms. Cristiane, thanks for explaining the story of Daniel because I’m taking part of the fasting but I never knew why it was called the “Fast Of Daniel”. I never knew who Daniel was that made him so different. This story is very strong and I love the way you interpreted it, it helps me to make sense out of the title of the fasting. I admire what Daniel did because he could have easily been influenced from what everyone else was doing but he didn’t… he chose to do what he had to do to remain faithful to God. Daniel handled the situation very well and this is the same way us in the faith should handle our everyday lives because it is very easy for us to fall into peer pressure and be influenced by the things around us. I find the fast of Daniel very much needed because we need to remain strong in God’s presence because satan uses the smallest things like music, friends, even family etc. to bring us down. We should always be in this same faith to seperate ourselves from the ways of the world so that we as true children of God, may not be contaminated.
Hi.Mrs Cristiane, I am in this fast of Daniel us well,and there is something different for me I willy want to go deep and renounce my flesh,cut off all those things that impedes me to have a greater relationship with God.
Dear Mrs Cardoso
I’m at the point in life were my faith is being tested. As Daniel didn’t allow the change in his life to change his faith so as I’m not allowing my changes in life to change my faith, instant the changes are making my faith to be more strong. The fasting of Daniel came at the right time, and I threw myself wholeheartly in the fast.
Thank you, may God use more and more
It is surely a daily fight to prevent our faith from being
contaminated by this world.
This is the kind of faith that I want to keep just like Daniel
and that’s why I’m in this fast.
Thank you for this message Mrs Cristiane.
X.
I am defiantly in Mrs Cristiane.
I made a vow to God on the first fast and even since my life has not been the same. It is as if it turned upside down. But I am stronger than I was before.
God is so good to give us opportunities to get closer to Him.
May God bless you in all that you do.
I am definitely in Mrs Cris. Television is a big thing in my house, but in these 21 Days, I resolved to do what Daniel did. I will not allow anything to contimate my faith. To my family it may seem as if I am alienating myself from them, but my salvation comes first.
I’m also part of it Mrs Cris and its true when you bring yourself down for God to be exalted in you,he honours you and your faith. You are never worried cause you know God is in charge of everything instead you are always smiling..in this fast I see that I am more close to God than before cause I gave him time to speak to me-so there’s a communication between me nd God..God Bless. RSA
Hey Mrs Cris,
This really opened my mind to think, I could of read that same verse and not got what the Holy Spirit showed you but thank you for sharing.
Sometimes we can allow things in us without even realising thinking that It’s not that bad, it was just food and it was the best there, but Daniel was looking at everything spiritually, he wasn’t allowing anything to hinder his faith, not even food.
This is strong thanks
Daniel was a man of faith thats why i have decided not to miss this opportunity of the 21 days of the holy fast.
Really mrs Cardoso if we learn not to compromise our faith for anything,our loving Father will honour our faith.
In the faith of the Fast of Daniel… this is yet another opportunity for us to prioritize our faith and not be contaminated all for God to honour us by filling us with His Spirit. Thank you.
Good morning,
I am with you of course and Godlywood challenge too,
God bless big love HelenXX
I’m in Mrs Cris. I believe there will be a great difference between those who truly engage in this fast and everybody else around; inside and outside of the church.
i am also this is an opportunity of a life time,i needed jesus in my life….the time is now for me to seek his presence!!