What is it? What is it that keeps me from being fully devoted in every aspect of my life?

But Daniel resolved  not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.  Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink.  Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age?  The king would then have my head because of you.”(Daniel 1:8-10)

Could it be that I am afraid that my devotion will result in lack?  A highly visible lack.  A gaunt and skinny life that portrays devotion to God as something that robs instead of enriches.  Daniel resolved not to defile himself with this (no doubt) exquisite, royal food that had likely been sacrificed to false gods and idols.  And in this resolve, we find a holy confidence–knowing that his purity and obedience will not subtract anything from his life.  He will not be worse off than the other young men his age.  To the contrary, staying steadfastly committed to God against all odds brought favor and anointing upon Daniel. 

My citizenship is in heaven.  I live as an alien and a stranger here.  And the world daily offers me a portion of “royal food” in the form of distasteful entertainment, ungodly relationships, selfish ambition, love of money, and so on.  Rich, delicious…and profane!  And, if I’m honest, there is a part of me that desires to partake of it for fear of “looking worse” than others.  Oh that I would resolve to not defile myself!  In every area in which I am faithful, in those same areas I will find that I am “healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food” (v. 15).  “Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing” (Psalm 34:9).

As I have meditated on these passages, God has shown me my heart.  I compromise, I go with the flow. But God is looking for a Daniel heart with Daniel faith.  Boldly refusing anything that defiles.  Consecrating myself with holy confidence.  Fearlessness.  Security in my identity as a worshiper of the one true God.  In chapter 5, just before Daniel reads the writing on the wall, he says to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else.  Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means” (v. 17).  I admire Daniel’s utter disinterest in anything the king has to offer.  May I have the same disinterest in anything the world has to offer.  Daniel was only concerned with being faithful to God at all costs and doing what he had been gifted to do.

I want that to be true of my life.