Daniel ch.1 – The Discipline to Just Do It

Some background of the story of Daniel:

It’s around 605 BC. Daniel is just a middle-aged teenager – probably between 14 and 16 yrs old – just a boy. The unimaginable had happened. Daniel and his family – and the Israelites, are overthrown and carried off into captivity by the Babylonians. It was probably the last time he ever saw his family. Jerusalem is destroyed. Its holy temple defiled. Evil had triumphed – at least for a season. But even as young teenagers, Daniel and his three friends that he wrote about in his diary knew that reality wasn’t always as it seemed. God was completely in control over what was happening to the Israelites, and He would eventually intervene and reveal himself to Babylon’s pagan kings as the ultimate ruler of the universe.

In Daniel ch. 1, we get a picture of a young teen taken captive – who refused to give into things that went against his personal spiritual convictions. The reason that he could stay true to his convictions is because he had developed spiritual disciplines as a young boy – for years – before he was taken captive. Life with God for Daniel meant more than anything else. So, when he was asked to eat food offered to idols (Dan. 1), he refused because it compromised his faith.

To Daniel, being spiritually disciplined meant that he did what he thought God wanted him to do so he could live life and do what he really wanted to do. What he wanted was a life of inner joy, peace and contentment- regardless of what life brought his way. That kind of life was his in abundance – because he practiced spiritual disciplines of prayer and meditating on Scripture.

What kind of spiritual life do you really want? To get there, it takes some spiritual discipline.

Jesus also gave us a promise as followers of Christ. If we practice some of the basic spiritual disciplines such as prayer, meditating on Scripture and alone time with God, we can live out the kind of spiritual life that God wants for us.

John 10 [10] I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.

Luke 6 [47] {Jesus} I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. [48] He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. [49] But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.

Discipline mean practicing the spiritual truths of Scripture.

Philippians 4 [9] Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

But, do it in small, bite-sized chunks — a little at a time. Take life one day at a time – with God.

Matthew 6 [34] Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Even Jesus knew that time alone in silence, solitude and prayer was key. In the midst of the busyness of his ministry, he took time for reflection and prayer – he practiced spiritual disciplines.

Mark 1 [32] That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. [33] The whole town gathered at the door, [34] and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. [35] Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. [36] Simon and his companions went to look for him, [37] and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

Luke 5 [15] Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. [16] But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.