Joyce Meyer Daily Devotional 16 July 2024, Tuesday Message
TOPIC: Keep Your Standards High
Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. – Daniel 6:3 (ESV)
The Old Testament character Daniel was a person of high standards. We know this because in Daniel 1, when the young men from Jerusalem were taken to Babylon to be trained in the royal court, they were supposed to eat the rich food and wine the king provided for them, but Daniel and his friends asked to be exempt.
He felt such delicacies would defile them and asked for vegetables and water instead. Daniel could have gotten in trouble for not eating the rich food, but instead God gave him favor with the man in charge (Dan. 1:5–20).
In Daniel 6, King Darius decreed that everyone in the kingdom had to pray to him and that anybody who prayed to anyone else would be thrown into a den of hungry lions. Daniel was committed to praying to the God of Israel, and he continued to do so despite the decree.
When the king found out about this, he had no choice but to send Daniel to the lions’ den. But God shut the lions’ mouths, and no harm came to Daniel. The next morning, the king ordered Daniel to be removed from the lions’ den. After Daniel emerged unscathed, the king saw that Daniel’s God was the true and living God and issued a new decree that everyone had to worship Him. Daniel went on to prosper in the king’s service.
Like Daniel, you may be faced with opportunities to compromise your convictions. Sometimes in the process of having your soul healed, you may feel it would just be easier to go back to your old ways instead of moving forward with God. Let me encourage you to be like Daniel and remain faithful and committed to God.
The healing of the soul takes time, and every day may not feel like a great victory. But as you stay in God’s Word and continue to obey Him, the progress He desires for you will take place. You will be walking toward greater and greater healing every day as you keep your standards high.
The king saw that Daniel was a person of integrity and that “an excellent spirit” was in him. Obviously, he believed strongly in keeping his commitments, promises, and vows, and he was willing to endure discomfort—and even risk his life—to do so. Because of this, he was promoted to a position of great authority and influence. God has put an excellent spirit in you, too, and you can choose to live in excellence every day.
The journey to healing isn’t always easy, so I encourage you today to make the decision that you will not compromise. We can see from the story of Daniel that those who remain faithful are rewarded. At the right time and in the right ways, God will honor your faithfulness to Him.
Prayer of the Day: Lord, I need Your help to keep my standards high, fulfill my commitments, walk in excellence and integrity, and remain faithful to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Joyce Meyer is one of the world’s leading practical Bible teachers. She is a New York Times bestselling author, and her books have helped millions of people find hope and restoration through Jesus Christ. Through Joyce Meyer Ministries, she teaches on a number of topics with a particular focus on how the Word of God applies to our everyday lives. Her candid communication style allows her to share openly and practically about her experiences, and helps others understand how to apply biblical principles to their own lives. Christ, amen