This weekend I spoke at a ladies conference about facing the fears in our lives. Whether we are talking about spiders, skeletons in our closets or opening up our manuscripts for editors and readers to see, fear is universal.
When I finally decided to turn and face my enemy Fear head on, one Bible character became my inspiration: Daniel. No, not when he was thrown into the lion’s den. Not when he was under the king’s edict to pray to no one but the king. The very beginning of his biblical story in Daniel chapter one.
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, God has enough and allows Nebuchadnezzar to come in and take over. Nebuchadnezzar not only takes some of the articles from God’s temple, he also takes several of the young men. The qualifications for these men were simple: no physical defect, handsome, and very smart. Daniel was one of the chosen.
These young men were supposed to be fed from the food at the king’s table. But Daniel knew this wouldn’t be best. The Bible says in Daniel 1:8, “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.”
Don’t gloss over that simple verse. Daniel is a young man, prisoner in an enemy country, and he apparently stood alone to make the request. Was he afraid at that moment. I can imagine. But he resolved, and he faced the fear and asked his question.
What fear do you need to resolve to face today? God is expecting the fear to be conquered overnight. Although I know God can work that way, He did not do it that way for me and I didn’t allow my heroine in Crossing Values to be rid of her fears completely overnight either.
Don’t focus on the end result that may be way down the road. Focus instead on forward progress, baby steps toward facing your enemy. Baby steps accumulate into great victories.
) Ugh…time to get myself on it again.
Interesting Carrie! What was their answer to Daniel’s request?