give me a daniel resolve!

it's not easy to really and truly be a little Christ, is it?

i know...huge newsflash...just call me Captain Obivous!

but seriously...its really hard to live out the ideals you ascribe to. that's a lesson i really can't seem to learn. or maybe its just that i don't want to learn...i would rather this whole Christianity thing just get easier!

and there's nothing like the anticipation of something hard- the anticipation of knowing you need more than what is in you.

i am in such a spot.

i have been discussing this dread of difficult human situations with a lot of people...friends, family, shawn (who fits both categories *grin*) and then yesterday it occured to me (hello, genuis) that maybe i wasn't seeking the right counsel.

i picked up the Bible at starbucks (sorry there are no indie coffee houses in fort worth, tx) and flipped through. my heart responded to my search...the book of Daniel jumped out at me. i read through the first half or so of the book in the last couple of days just remembering how much i love this man's life....his RESOLVE.

taken captive by the babylonians (God allowed it because they had such a long succession of godless kings), daniel finds himself in some sticky situations. they want him to be one of the king's men because he is smart and strong and attractive...the only problem is they want him to compromise the lifestyle laid out by his unseen God. Daniel doesn't eat the food considered defiled...the puts his life on the line to interpret dreams..he won't bow down to other gods.... he is a courageous man at every bend in the road, often facing certain death, and does not give in.

i need daniel's resolve to do right. no matter what. i want to learn to leave the results to God and just on my part do what i know is right...daniel could have despised his position and been bitter about being a captive, but we don't see that (that would naturally be my bent) or he could have just given in...become like a Babylonian and forsaken the mighty call on his life. but he didn't.

God, build in me a daniel strength of character!
"Daniel MADE UP HIS MIND no to defile himself.." Dan 1:8a