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 in this way.
Daniel 1:8
Joan of Arc is reported to have once said, “All battles are first won or lost in the mind.” She was correct. “Daniel resolved not to defile himself….” Daniel won his battle, from the moment he heard the King’s order. As soon as the order left the King’s mouth, Daniel resolved in his heart, to do the right thing. He did not negotiate his battle. He did not explain, rationalize or reason his way through it. He did not try to find the loopholes or make up excuses. He did not even try to find out what the others were going to do following the order, Daniel chose to do the right thing, because it was the right thing to do.
We must understand that Daniel had a very high aptitude; he was well-informed and quick to understand, and one of the things Daniel would have known, is that King Nebuchadnezzar had the power to end his life. And this was not the only obstacle, so many other things were stacked against him: Daniel was living in captivity in Babylon at this time; as a slave to Nebuchadnezzar, he had no real say. Secondly, he was from a royal family and Nebuchadnezzar may have viewed him as a threat. Thirdly, he was a believer, and Nebuchadnezzar was not. Despite all these circumstances, Daniel kept the fear of God front and center, and that led him to do the right thing.
Dear friend, the spirit of Babylon is all around us and it continues to offer up its temptations and persuasions every single day. Many Christians have already defiled themselves because they feared man, more than they feared God. Others have lost the battle because they did not hide the word of God in their hearts, and at the moment of testing, they waffled, they negotiated, and tried to reason their way out of the dilemma, even as Eve tried to reason with the serpent. We know that Eve lost her battle with far reaching consequences and we will too, if we follow her example. Her defilement did not just affect Adam, her husband, it continues to affect all of humanity to this day and will continue to do so for generations to come.
Are you facing temptation? Is the spirit of Babylon nipping at your heels? Then heed the words of Timothy: “Run from temptations that capture young people. Always do the right thing…. (2 Timothy 2: 22a).” Be a Daniel; resolve in your mind not to defile yourself, no matter what others around you have chosen to do. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you not to defile yourself in this way, and if you have defiled yourself, repent of your sin immediately, God is quick to forgive and to cleanse those who repent, from all unrighteousness. Do the right thing, because it is the right thing to do.
Heavenly Father give me the strength to overcome the temptations of this world. Help me not to defile myself whether in thought, word or deed. I cancel any generational ties and curses that may have come upon me, or my loved ones because of spiritual defilement. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.