Daniel 1:15
“And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.”
The goal at the end of every competition or challenge is to receive the trophy. Those who pull for the team who won always enjoy watching their team lift the trophy in victory. It is great being part of the team that raises the trophy and to have the bragging rights that you are the champion during the next season. However, before the trophy is raised there are many steps that team had to take that led them to victory. Though we all enjoy the raising of the trophy, most do not want to endure the steps it took to raise the trophy.
Daniel and his friends learned early on in their stay in Babylon the challenges it would take to have victory. They had not been in the country long when they were told they would have to eat the king’s meat and drink his wine. Knowing this was against what God told them to eat and drink, they refused. The verse above is a testament that they eventually experienced victory in this battle, but this was just the beginning of many challenges these young men would face during their stay in Babylon. You will find in this story several steps they took before they raised the trophy in victory.
The first step was a challenge to their core values. You will never experience victory without opposition. Many people want to raise the trophy in victory, but they don't want to face the opposition it takes to get there. If you always run from opposition when your core values are challenged, you will never experience victory. Opposition is the first step anyone must take before victory.
The second step was that they purposed to stand. When the opposition came, they pushed back. There must be pushback if you are going to see victory. Christian, stop letting the opposition push you around and have the grit to push back. There must be something inside of you that says that you are not going to let the opposition dictate what you are going to do. There must be a purpose in your heart that causes you to push back against them. If all you do is surrender with no pushback, you will never enjoy victory lane. Stand up and push back for what you believe. Don't let the opposition easily win.
The third step was the proving time. These men had only a short time to prove their God. We tend to be people who want an immediate return on our pushback, but there are going to be times when you are going to be tested to your limits. What you do during the proving time will determine whether you experience victory. Always remember that the proving time is building your strength for future battles.
The fourth step was their prayer time. Though this story does not show them praying, you can look at their character and practice in other testings and see that they always prayed. Victory will never be achieved in the Christian life without prayer. Prayer is what gives you the hope that God will come through. Christian, you can stand and push back when the opposition comes, you can hold on and not quit, but you will fail without prayer. Prayer is the key to achieving victory.
These four steps must be taken if you are going to raise the spiritual trophy in every battle that you face. Always remember that these four steps will be taken along the journey to every victory. The turnout of whatever battle you face today will be determined by what you do in these four steps.