HOW EXCELLENT ARE YOUR WAYS?

Today's post was primarily inspired by a friend's prayerpoint over our daily prayerline. We were asked to pray for a spirit of endurance as it is Spiritual Emphasis Month. He went on further to explain his prayer topic that Daniel embodied perseverance as he was able to outlive and still excellently serve four kings during his lifetime in Babylon. I was intrigued at once and that got me thinking, Daniel did not outlive the kings because of his diet or because he was special (well he kind of was with his rap sheet...lol), he served and outlived all four kings over the span of 67 years in the same position, as, in today's world, the Prime Minister/President of Babylon and Special Advisor to the King. He served in this position for 67years! Why? Because 

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1. Daniel served the Lord with all his heart, mind, body and soul.

2. Daniel had a spirit of excellence

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I have always loved the word 'excellent'. The highest, the best, the most distinguished, premium, unblemished, flawless, peerless, superior, the echelon of greatness...I could go on and on. Daniel was found to possess an excellent spirit and no fault could be found in him (Daniel 6:3). Even with all these extraordinary qualities, Daniel was not the king and he did not wish to be. He just did what he had been purposed and assigned to do, excellently. His speech was excellent, his vision was excellent, his love for God was excellent (Angel Gabriel said he was greatly loved because of his devotion to God- Daniel 9:23)his interpretation of dreams was excellent, his prayer life was excellent, his walk with God was excellent, unrivalled excellence in his dedication to God and the things of Him, an excellent comprehension of times and seasons, an excellent spirit, excellent mind. Daniel was even excellent looking (Daniel 1:4). Thank you Jesus!

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LESSONS LEARNT

Serving God excellently with all we have, at all times, no matter the circumstances pays off. Daniel chose to serve his God instead of the gods of babylon even at the risk of his life (Daniel 6)

When you decide to tackle any and everything that comes your way with your best and your all, your efforts will be acknowledged and blessed by God. (Daniel 10:19)

Now, the definition of elevation when it comes to God is different from Man's definition of elevation. Note that Daniel was not the king of Babylon, he served the kings that ruled over the 67 year period, but he was absolutely invaluable to the kings and the whole kingdom of Babylon for his wisdom, knowledge and understanding was 10 times better than all the experts and priests in the land. (Daniel 1:20, 2:48-49)

Daniel respected and appreciated the position he had been given. He did not strive to win the king over or even take the king's position (which I am sure he could have as the kings were not that bright). He rather served the kings wholeheartedly in the position he had been entrusted. (Daniel 2)

I have realized that God blesses that which you set your heart to, if, it is of a pure motive. Remember that no wrong was found in Daniel. 

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Daniel was excellent in his ways by 

1. distinguishing himself from his peers in his work and service to the kings and the kingdom (Daniel 6:3)
2. ensuring that no wrong, negligence or corruption could be found in him(Daniel 6:4)
3. being trustworthy, faithful and committed(Daniel 6:4)

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 Let us try to imbibe the Daniel spirit as it is one that carries blessings and distinction amongst men and before God. Here is a prayer to help 

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“Father, I thank you for your word which is tried and true. I thank you for the knowledge of Daniel and his excellent ways. I humbly come before you knowing that anything I ask of you will be done if I only believe. With all my hope and trust in You and all You do, I confess that You are more than able. Take away from me any habits, thoughts or attitudes that defeat my distinctions in life. Pour out the anointing for Daniel’s excellent ways upon my life. May my life be one of excellence, my ways, my thoughts and all my doings. May others recognize Your glory through my excellent ways. I know that You have done it and I receive with all my heart, soul, spirit, mind and body the Daniel anointing to fulfil my purpose in life. Thank you Father for You are well able. Thank you for the anointing. In Jesus Christ my Lord’s name, I pray. Amen ”

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WHO AM I?

 After I started my personal walk with God, there were a lot of things I did not know.  I knew I was now God’s child because I had been told that but I had no knowledge of how much He loved me (I honestly still cannot comprehend the depths of it), who He really was to me and who I had become because of Him. I really didn’t know who I was on this new journey. I just quickly affirmed other people's opinions that I was now a child of God but I did not know who I was in God or in Jesus Christ, now that I had accepted Him as my Lord (which also means Owner/Master/Boss…Jesus is THE Boss!). It was like belonging to a group or club and just being clueless. Eventually, you either get kicked out for lack of participation or your interest fizzles out. 

The good news is, God will never kick you out but there is another club that desperately haggles people for membership and it is not a good club. The Bible makes it absolutely clear in Matthew 12:30. There are no grey areas with God. He is not shady. He is absolute and resolute in all His ways and that is why He is trustworthy (Psalms 111:7, Rev. 21:5)

“Anyone who is not with Me is against Me, and anyone who does not gather with Me scatters. ”

— Matthew 12:30

I don’t want you to assume wrongly that this conversation is not for you since you may not have the same relationship with the Lord or even want one and that is quite alright. (Even though I am secretly praying that the Holy Spirit convicts you and wins you over )

I just want you to trust in one thing  - John 3:16 … Yes, we all know this verse by heart (thank you school and Sunday school recitals)

“For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.”

— John 3:16 Amplified Version

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God loves the WORLD (any and everyone!) that is what the Bible says. It did not say, “For God so loved Christians or those who have a relationship with Him…. He loves us all, each and everyone of us and that includes YOU.

No! Don’t say it, don’t think it, it doesn’t matter, He loves you, He loves you, HE LOVES YOU. GOD LOVES YOU. JESUS LOVES YOU and no one, I mean, nobody can love you as much as God does. Think of how much your parents or guardians care for you and love you, multiply that by infinity and it would still not even measure up to a fraction of how much He loves you.

So, first things first, YOU are LOVED. Accept it, let it sink in, swirl around, whatever the situation maybe, just know and believe that you are loved. Whilst you are at it, here are a few pointers and truths I would like to include which are taken straight from God's own mouth (the Bible):

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You are wanted and needed (2 Peter 3:9)

You are cared for 

You were planned for

You are accepted for everything you are (You are enough!)

You are accepted for everything you are not and will never be

You have a heart-stopping purpose in life

You have a lot of gifts from God stored up waiting

You are blessed with EVERY blessing conceivable

Your every concern and need is important to God

You are a child of the One who created everything in the world (the one who gave Bill Gates all that money?!!! Seriously!)

You were created to be just like God (Shut the front door! – Yup, You have no idea how wonderful you are)

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What does it matter and why should you believe these things?  Well, if you believe, then you can receive. You bring to life and into existence the things you believe.(Matthew 21:22, Proverbs 18:21). You are a child of God and that comes with a lot of responsibilities as well as privileges, the more you know them, the better equipped you would be on this journey. 

Secondly, they are truths that God Himself has said in His Word which is the Bible.  If you can believe that God created this earth, then please trust that the list above, which is just a few of His thoughts towards you are TRUE. (2 Cor 1:20)

I think we should discuss belief or as I like to call it ‘Faith’ soon… Till then, know that Jesus Christ is all and in all, yes, all, even You, if you’d let Him. Oh, and if you want to get to know Him better, that is what we are here for :)