A Daniel Anointing

In the book of Daniel we read about Daniel and 3 other young men, Hananiah, Mishael & Azariah – young Israelites who were taken from their homeland to a foreign land to be trained to serve before King Nebuchadnezzar.   These were hand picked young men who showed great promise but they were foreigners in an alien culture.

We read that these young men were bold and not prepared to compromise their faith in God and defile themselves by eating the King’s rich food and drinking his wine.   

This diet of rich food was specifically designed to ensure that the young men being trained for service grew strong & fit.   Food fit for a King indeed.    

Instead, Daniel asked for a simple diet of vegetables & water for him and his friends because he did not want to be defiled by eating such food.  Food which God had forbidden his people to eat as set out in His commandments.

This was a very bold & dangerous request.    

It would have seemed ridiculous & foolish to the chief steward to allow such a thing.  How could a diet of vegetables & water possible be better than the King’s food.    How could this request be wise – and weren’t these supposed to be clever young men – the best of the bunch.    

Daniel was in a foreign culture now so shouldn’t he just fit in and do what all the other young men were doing – life would be so much easier surely.    

Fortunately, Daniel was not prepared to compromise his faith and just do what everyone else did – following the perceived wisdom of that age.

The steward was understandably extremely worried to allow such a thing especially in disobedience to the King’s order.    His life was literally on the line and he was in danger of losing everything to allow Daniel’s request.    Daniel was certainly asking a lot of him.   

However,  God had granted Daniel favour in the steward’s eyes and the steward liked and trusted Daniel.   

Daniel also recognised this was a big ask and so he also exercised wisdom by asking the steward to give them 10 days eating just the vegetables & drinking only water to demonstrate his point.    A test for the steward’s benefit.

At the end of the 10 days the young men appeared better and fatter than the other young men who were eating the King’s food.    The steward was satisfied that the diet was working and so gave orders for it to continue.

God rewarded the faith and obedience of these young men and gave them “an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom.  And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams”.

At the end of the period of training  all the young men were brought before the King to be interviewed.   

It says that no-one impressed the King more than these young men and  they became his advisers.  

Not only that, but it says that when the King asked for their advice he found them “ten times better than any of the other advisers” – many of whom were magicians and enchanters – in his entire kingdom.

I pray that in these times God will release a Daniel anointing on Kingdom men & women of God that they will excel in all wisdom, understanding and knowledge. 

That their sphere of influence will increase and they will stand before Kings, Governments & the key decision makers in Government & business to input Godly wisdom & direction to re-establish justice & righteousness.   

I pray that their advice will be sought out and will be valued above all other advice.    That the favour of God will be upon them.

I pray for Godly dreams and visions to be released with the gift of interpretation.

I pray for boldness to come upon us so that we no longer follow the herd but are willing to stand up for righteousness and truth and make Godly decisions which will influence nations.  

Let the pillars of righteousness and justice be re-established in the nations.  Amen.

Blessings to you this day.