The Purposed Heart
Thursday, January 20
The Purposed Heart
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Daniel 1:8
The strategy of the enemy is the same today as it was in the beginning of time. Get man to focus on self and look away from God. In the Old Testament book of Daniel we read the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who refused to worship or serve any god but the living God. When they first arrived in Babylon, they had determined along with Daniel not to defile themselves with the royal food and wine (Daniel 1:8). After fasting ten days, they were healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. Daniel 1: 20 says, “Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.”
With a purposed mind you can accomplish so much more because you are not relying on self, but on an all-powerful God. We are told their refusal to worship another god fired up King Nebuchadnezzar, and he had the furnace heated seven times hotter than normal. The furnace was so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers preparing to throw the men in. We may walk through a fiery trial that the enemy has heated seven times hotter than normal… But God!
God did not cause the fire to consume these men nor did they leave with the fear of fire. This is a great reminder that God will never leave you or forsake you! The men emerged from an impossible situation unstained, unbound, and unharmed!
Jesus always walks with us in our fiery trials. His presence will make the fire of our trials, supernatural and situations will turn around from hopeless to hope-filled and beyond!
May your heart be purposed, committed and rehearsed so that you may not be defiled by sin and so that you may do what is right and do what is for God.