Daily Daniel Lifestyle

The Daniel fast may be something you’ve looked into or participated in before, but have you taken time to study Daniel’s life beyond those ten days? Daniel’s lifestyle habits and character exemplify how I would like to live my own life.Daniel’s personal devotion and commitment to the Lord developed a solid character and excellence in his life that no one could deny. God did miracles in his life and showed him supernatural things few are privileged to see. There are four things in particular I see in his life that challenge me.

Daniel put God first

Daniel and his friends had been captured by the Babylonians, but they chose repeatedly not to compromise their values and commitment to the Lord while living in the world. This was the impetus for the Daniel's first fast mentioned in the bible in which he “resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine” (Daniel 1:8).More seriously, their lives were threatened and at risk when they chose not to bow down to the golden image in chapter 3 and when Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den in chapter 6 for continuing to pray to his God. There are parts of the world where persecution for Christian beliefs is very real today.We may not be in danger of physical harm, but how often do we feel threatened by words and judgments of others? We live in a culture where it’s not always popular, cool or trendy to hold to a specific set of beliefs but in Daniel we see an example of how this can be handled with grace but without compromise.

I am challenged to always put God first in my life and hold fast to my beliefs, regardless of the pressures of the world around me.

Daniel had an excellent spirit

Daniel stood out everywhere he went, not just in religious settings. It is clear that when he went to work, he was diligent, hardworking, wise and always operated with integrity.

Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.Daniel 6:3-4

Daniel obviously gave every task focus and attention. And again – he never cut corners or bowed to pressure, they could not find ANY charge against him when it came to his character and work performance.

I am challenged to excellence in my responsibilities both at home and at work, focusing my time, energy and hard work on my priorities.

Daniel prioritized prayer

What do my spiritual habits and disciplines look like on a daily basis? Am I consistent and devoted in prayer and time with the Lord, or do I roller coaster through “all or nothing” cycles?We clearly see Daniel’s practice, even when he was manipulated and threatened by his enemies.

Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God just as he had done before.Daniel 6:10

Putting God first means prayer and spending time with Him… a LOT of time. "A lot" is purposely vague, as I am certainly not saying we’re required to complete a quota of time or mark a checklist of spiritual activities every day.A personal relationship will be unique to each person. There aren’t rules for what, when, where or how your time looks like. However, it is important that we do invest the time, and our minds and hearts are centered on God throughout the day.

I am challenged to be more intentional in my prayer life, taking time out to focus on God with my whole heart and mind.

Daniel lived a supernatural natural life

Daniel was consistent in his personal time with God and his prayer life. He was excellent in his work environment and personal relationships. But he lived with excellence not only in the natural realm, but also in the supernatural.I encourage you to read about some of these moments of God-given insights and experiences for yourself in the book of Daniel:

• Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams – Chapter 2 and 4
• Daniel interprets the writing on the wall – Chapter 5
• Daniel is miraculously delivered from the lions – Chapter 6
• Daniel’s dreams and visions of the future – Chapter 7 and 8
• Daniel’s encounter with angels – Chapter 9

Can you imagine being told the following by an angelic being:

Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.Daniel 10:12

I am challenged to set my mind to gain understanding and humble myself before my God.

A committed daily life

I always feel amazing physically, mentally and spiritually after I finish a Daniel fast, but I don’t want this to be an exception when I fast once or twice a year – I want to cultivate habits year round that would lead to a lifestyle like Daniel. I have seen in his story and others that a committed daily life, being faithful through the many monotonous moments, will lead to momentous and memorable experiences beyond our imagination. Want to stay updated on new blog posts each month? Sign up here!