Day 2 Devotional: Fasting to Remain Undefiled
Day 2: Fasting to Remain Undefiled
But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials. (Daniel 1:8-9)
What is your response when threatened? I tend to go into “fight of flight” mode when something catches me off guard, when I get too fatigued, or when I am blindsided. Either I get combative, or I want to quit and run away from the situation entirely.
Daniel didn’t have these options when he was taken captive and brought to the court of Neo-Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar. He could do what he was told or be killed, end of story.
Throughout his lifetime, Daniel demonstrated incredible intuition, tact, and diplomacy within this foreign environment. He was so excellent in life and leadership that he was honored and promoted by every king he served under. In the process, he remained fully committed to God and his values.
Daniel had to navigate an ungodly environment with poor leadership. Have you ever been in a similar situation? How you can thrive and remain pure in heart in the midst of chaos and constant pressure to compromise?
We can all identify with this scenario to a degree because we are in a foreign environment: we are in the world but not of the world. (See John 15:19)
Within a few minutes of watching television or scrolling social media you will be bombarded with images and content that don’t reflect the kingdom principles of God.
The fight or flight response can be appropriate in some scenarios. We should block out and shield our eyes and ears from things that would defile our souls, especially when merely for entertainment.
But sometimes we can’t run away or avoid circumstances. We must navigate how to stand up for holiness, righteousness, and justice without being combative or demeaning others.
Daniel had clearly identified the lines he could not cross and those things which would pollute and defile his soul. Although he "had it made" by the world’s standards in terms of position and influence, God was first in his life no matter what.
Remember that when Daniel had to take a stand, he went about it in an honoring way. He asked permission from the commander and God granted him favor.
What ripple effect did Daniel’s demeanor and righteousness have on those he came in contact with?
We are in this world to make a difference, to shine light in darkness, and to impact the people around us. But this starts with us being devoted to God above all else, and to be clear on lines and boundaries so we can protect our eyes, ears and hearts. We are called to be a holy people, set apart.
Fasting can help to us to identify and clarify those lines and gain wisdom in how to handle difficult situations.
Your Journey
At what point do you need to make up your mind and draw the line in order to remain undefiled? What boundaries do you need to put in place to ensure you maintain clean hands and a pure heart?
Song: Heart Abandoned by Passion (YouTube)
Daniel 1:8-9
John 17:15-19
1 Peter 2:9
You can utilize the Daniel Fast Journey book (available on Amazon) for more information about the Daniel Fast along with a 21-day meal plan and recipes.
https://www.danielfastjourney.com/
