Walking with Daniel: An Unparalleled Blueprint for Daily Living

Daniel, the author of the biblical book that bears his name, reveals God’s prophetic plan not only for the Gentiles (chapters 2–7) but also for Israel (chapters 8–12). His visions delve into the end‑times revival of the Roman Empire, the reign of the antichrist, the desecration of a future Jewish temple during the tribulation period, and the relentless persecution of the Jews.

Daniel’s awareness of the prophetic future played a crucial role in shaping his life of unwavering integrity. His inspiring story serves as a guiding light for each of us, encouraging us to embrace and live our lives according to prophetic wisdom.

Obedience to God

Daniel’s life was marked by unwavering obedience to God. For example, when King Darius decreed that no one should pray to any god but him for a month, Daniel courageously defied the ban. Instead, he chose to worship the one true God and ignored the king’s command. As a result, Daniel faced the terrible punishment of being thrown into a den of lions. However, his fierce obedience was rewarded when God intervened and rescued him from certain death (Daniel 6).

Another inspiring example is found in the story of Daniel’s three devout friends who stood up to King Nebuchadnezzar. They refused to bow down and worship his golden statue, standing firm in their faith even though they knew it could mean death. As punishment, they were thrown into a fiery furnace; yet remarkably, God protected them in the inferno (Daniel 3).

The unwavering faithfulness of Daniel and his companions is inspiring! Sadly, there seems to be a stark contrast with many contemporary Christians who often choose convenience over commitment when it comes to following God’s commands. This tendency to waver and compromise reveals a lack of understanding of what true obedience entails.

Let us recognize that obedience to God is not only necessary, but ultimately beneficial to us in both the short and long term. Throughout Scripture, we see that those who choose to follow God’s way will reap bountiful rewards, including:

• Blessing (Luke 11:28)
• Long life (1 Kings 3:14; John 8:51)
• Happiness (Psalms 112:1; 119:56)
• Peace (Proverbs 1:33)
• Well‑being (Jeremiah 7:23)

Walking by Faith

Daniel consistently walked by faith and not by sight. A prime example is when the king had Daniel thrown into the lions’ den. From the perspective of “walking by sight,” death was certain. But Daniel kept faith, and God rewarded that faith by rescuing him from the lions (Daniel 6).

Daniel’s three Hebrew friends illustrate the same truth. From a “walking by sight” perspective, being thrown into a fiery furnace is a sure death sentence. But they kept faith, and God rescued them from the fire (Daniel 3).

• As we move further into the prophetic end times, let’s follow Daniel’s example by walking by faith and not by sight.
• The following verses will help you: Psalms 40:4;Matthew 15:28; Romans 10:17

Integrity

Throughout his life, Daniel consistently demonstrated a remarkable sense of integrity (Daniel 1:7‑9; 6:10). This unwavering moral strength was evident to everyone he encountered, including the likes of King Nebuchadnezzar and King Darius. Undoubtedly, Daniel would have resonated deeply with the sentiments expressed by Paul in 2 Corinthians 8:21: “We aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.”

• We should all be inspired by Daniel’s exemplary lifestyle and embody integrity in our daily lives, especially as we face the end times.
• The following verses will help you: Proverbs 11:3; Micah 6:8; Hebrews 13:18

Walking in Humility

Daniel was a humble man who constantly focused his attention on God rather than on his own abilities (Daniel 2:27‑28). His humble attitude echoed that of John the Baptist, who said of Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

Daniel seemed to recognize the divine favor given to those who embrace humility. The Bible affirms this by saying, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” (James 4:10; see also Proverbs 15:33; Luke 1:52; 1 Peter 5:5‑6). Throughout his life, Daniel demonstrated humility, and time and again, God exalted and honored him. It is incumbent upon us to follow in Daniel’s footsteps and embrace a life of humility.

Are you satisfied with your spiritual life?

Is your relationship with God what it should be?

All of us could use a little spiritual tune-up, and Daniel is just the man to show us how.

Let’s follow his lead! His blueprint for living works!