Resolve
In our study of Daniel with Beth Moore, I went back over some old notes and was reminded of my need for resolve. That nothing happens unless we choose to make it happen (of course, besides those things God chooses to happen:) But I'm talking about my daily choices of exercise, eating right, house cleaning and organizing, etc. Also, my relationship with God, I must resolve to pray, read the Word and take time away to "hear" from God, only then will I mature in my walk with God.
Beth notes Daniel 1:8 when, "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." Moore writes the following on pages 24 and 25 of her Daniel study, "Had his (Daniel's) decision been easy, it wouldn't have demanded resolve...godliness is never accidental. Neither is victory coincidental. Both stem from up-front, daily resolve."
This paragraph by Moore on page 25 really spoke to me as I often have difficulty with consistency in my resolve:
The lifeblood of integrity is becoming the same person no matter where we are--no matter who's around. When we become people of integrity, everything we are on the inside is obvious from the outside. The Latin word for "integrity" literally means "entire." The essence of the term is wholeness and completeness. Integrity is "the quality or state of being complete or undivided." You can see, therefore, how much integrity depends on consistency. Integrity not only calls us to live inside-out, it keeps the outside from coming in. Consistency in our walk and in our talk becomes a transportable cloak of protection around us, going anywhere we go. Life becomes so much simpler when there aren't so many costume changes.
Moore goes on to mention putting on the full armor of God, "Satan never wastes a fiery dart by aiming at a spot covered by armor. The bull's eye is located dead center in our inconsistency. That's where the enemy plans to bring us down."
Beth notes Daniel 1:8 when, "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." Moore writes the following on pages 24 and 25 of her Daniel study, "Had his (Daniel's) decision been easy, it wouldn't have demanded resolve...godliness is never accidental. Neither is victory coincidental. Both stem from up-front, daily resolve."
This paragraph by Moore on page 25 really spoke to me as I often have difficulty with consistency in my resolve:
The lifeblood of integrity is becoming the same person no matter where we are--no matter who's around. When we become people of integrity, everything we are on the inside is obvious from the outside. The Latin word for "integrity" literally means "entire." The essence of the term is wholeness and completeness. Integrity is "the quality or state of being complete or undivided." You can see, therefore, how much integrity depends on consistency. Integrity not only calls us to live inside-out, it keeps the outside from coming in. Consistency in our walk and in our talk becomes a transportable cloak of protection around us, going anywhere we go. Life becomes so much simpler when there aren't so many costume changes.
Moore goes on to mention putting on the full armor of God, "Satan never wastes a fiery dart by aiming at a spot covered by armor. The bull's eye is located dead center in our inconsistency. That's where the enemy plans to bring us down."
A mosaic at The Vatican in Rome of a Centaurs with his weapons and shield.
Eph. 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
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