Dare to be a Daniel

I wrote this in April 2009. 

Words and Music by Phillip P. Bliss, 1873

Refrain

Dare to be a Daniel
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm
Dare to make it known

For a while, this hymn has been in my thoughts, day and night. Lately I have been struggling with a number of issues and whenever I get a moment to myself, this hymn floods my mind. I can hear my mother's voice singing it. The Lord speaks to us in various ways. To me the Voice of the Lord is clear, dare to be the sore thumb that sticks out for Christ. Dare to stand alone, dare to turn down earthly requests and march forward in victory. Dare to be like Daniel, eat vegetables and drink water but still look finer that them who indulge in all the dainties.

Everyday is a new day to step out boldly for the army of God. It is not in vain that we stand alone for God. He will deliver us from the snare of the fowler; he will shut the mouths of the lions and deprive them of the power to harm us. He will be the fourth man in the furnace and when you emerge from that fire, you will not even be smelling of smoke! Just hold on. Hold on firm to the promises because God is the same yesterday, today and forever! Hebrews 3:14 says

For we have become fellows with Christ (the Messiah) and share in all He has for us, if only we hold our first newborn confidence and original

assured expectation [in virtue of which we are believers] firm and unshaken to the end.

 

No matter who leaves you, no matter what may be missing in you life, no matter the struggles, dare, still, to believe in the goodness of God. No matter what the people around you are doing and saying, dare to honour God. No matter how dry and lifeless the bones may seem, dare to listen to the voice of God and prophesy over those bones! Habakkuk 3:17&18:

17. Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, [though] the product of the olive fails

and the fields yield no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls,

18. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation!

I needed some picking up today, and the Word of God is the right place to turn to. Mighty men of God, precious stones (women of valour) dare to honour and trust God. No matter what, keep walking and say

The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! (Habakkuk 3:19)

Be Blessed always, dare to have a purpose firm. Dare to be a Daniel!