15. Daniel's Success Secrets
15. Daniel’s Success Secrets
Our topic today is Daniel’s Success Secrets.
Three years after King Jehoiakim began to rule in
Judah, Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem with his armies, and
the Lord gave him victory over Jehoiakim. When he returned to Babylon, he took
along some of the sacred cups from the Temple of God and placed them in the
treasury of his god in the land of Shinar. Then he ordered Ashpenaz, who was in
charge of his palace personnel, to select some of the Jewish youths brought
back as captives-young men of the royal family and nobility of Judah-and to
teach them the Chaldean language and literature. "Pick strong, healthy,
good-looking lads," he said; "those who have read widely in many
fields, are well informed, alert and sensible, and have enough poise to look
good around the palace." The king assigned them the best of food and wine
from his own kitchen during their three-year training period, planning to make
them his counselors when they graduated. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah
were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. However, their
superintendent gave them Babylonian names, as follows: Daniel was called
Belteshazzar; Hananiah was called Shadrach; Mishael was called Meshach; Azariah
was called Abednego. But Daniel made up his mind not to eat the food and wine
given to them by the king. He asked the superintendent for permission to eat
other things instead. Now as it
happened, God had given the superintendent a special appreciation for Daniel
and sympathy for his predicament. Daniel 1:1-9 TLB
Daniel’s Success Secrets.
Sometime around 605 BC, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of
Babylon attacked Judah and took certain Jews of noble descent into slavery and
captivity. Among them was Daniel. As a result, his life became marked with many
problems. The good news, however, is that he overcame every one of them.
Daniel’s life demonstrated that, with God, anyone can
overcome any academic or life challenge. Daniel was chosen along with those
marked for a naturalization process that would qualify them to eventually serve
in the king’s palace. Their names were changed, and with time their attitudes,
tastes, preferences, choices, and even worship, were also expected to align
with the Babylonian system. However, Daniel knew that once he started enjoying
the process and the king’s delicacies, his choices and heart would eventually
be swerved to the ways of Babylon, which were contrary to God’s laws. And so
Daniel purposed in his heart not to be changed.
As a result of this purpose and decision, Dan 1:17-20
shows that God made Daniel and his companions so academically proficient that,
not only were they far better than their classmates, they were even found to be
ten times better than the established academic authorities of their day. What
could have been responsible for this amazing feat and results?
The answers can be found in Daniel’s success secrets!
1. Daniel feared God – He considered God’s will above
even his own discomfort and situation. He decided to be godly, rather than
environmentally correct and accepted.
2. Daniel enjoyed God’s favour – With God’s help, he got
opportunities that would not normally be given, which helped him to easily
achieve his goals.
3. Daniel was focused – he did not get distracted by what
everyone else considered okay. He chose to stand apart and be different.
4. Daniel acted - He did his necessary part for his
desired result.
From today, take
time to identify negative influences on campus and avoid them.
There is the story
of a fellow whose lifestyle throughout his four-year degree program was based
on cheating during exams. He was considered ‘smart’ by his friends. However,
his ‘smart’ method failed him on his final year project. He had to stay an
extra session! Nothing wrong or bad can ever give anyone an admirable end. From
today, purpose to stay focused on the reason you’re in the university.
I encourage you to keep and practice Daniel’s Secrets of
Success in your academic life. Fear God, enjoy God’s favour, stay
focused on your goals and reason for being in school at this time, and act out
your diligent part to achieve academic success. Know that God has promised to
help you, and He will. Only trust Him and stay focused on your goals.
Don’t compromise on your good habits, stay focused on
your academic goals and whatever happens know that God will come through for
you throughout this week. You can succeed! You can make it!!
Before I sign off, I pray for you going into exams at
this time:
May Almighty God
favour you, grant you examination success and victory in your academics, in
Jesus’ Name!
Continue to expect the best from yourself and continue to maintain a
great attitude regardless whatever happens.
I’ll be glad to hear from you. Kindly send your testimonies, questions
and prayer requests as responses on this blog. If you’d like your friends,
class mates and room-mates to be helped by Intervention
messages and Study Tips, kindly share this message with them.
Thank you for joining me. I remain your host Tope Banjo and this is Intervention. God bless you mightily!
You will succeed. You will make it!
Contact:
Tel: +234 817 2239 319, Lagos-Nigeria.
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