Bible Reading: Daniel 5, 6, 7, 2John 1
Memory Verse: “Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.” Daniel 6:3 (KJV)
An Excellent Spirit is that Spirit which excels, predominates, or goes beyond. This Spirit will distinguish anyone in whom it is found. This is the case of Daniel as stated in Daniel 6:3 (KJV), “Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.”
The Excellent spirit will make anyone who has it to be preferred above his peers because his performance will excel! Then what does it take to have an excellent Spirit? First of all it is important to state that it can be developed by each and every one of us because the seed is in everyone of us as shown in Ephesians 3:20 (KJV), “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”
The power that works in everyone of God’s children is exceeding as shown above but the ability to develop that Spirit depends on each person and it depends on your choice. We can see the characteristics in the life of Daniel. First, he was purposeful. He knew what he wanted and decided to be focused irrespective of what people thought or said. He decided he would not eat the Kings food to defy himself inspite of the attractiveness of this meal. Daniel 1:8 (KJV) says, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” When you are in a different environment, do you play to the gallery or maintain your position even if it is not popular?
Secondly, he was a man of faith. When no magician in the land of Babylon could tell the king his dream and interpretation, Daniel said, he should be given time and he would tell the king. ( Daniel 2:1-16). And he went to God to seek his face and God answered him! ( Daniel 2:19). Whatever the challenge you are facing now, as you go to God in prayer today, He will provide you with a solution in Jesus name.
In addition to this, he was prayerful. He got the revelation through prayer and was convicted of praying to God instead of Darius the king ( Daniel 6:10). He knew that God expects us to pray without ceasing. ( 1 Thesalonians 5:17) and he exhibited this even at the risk of his life. He was addicted to prayer! We need to pray as much as we eat to have the excellent spirit in us.
Prayer: Father, give me the grace to develop the excellent spirit in me in the mighty name of Jesus.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero