We have learnt six impacts that we can enjoy if we have an excellent spirit. “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” (Dan. 6:4). All of us definitely want to enjoy all of these impacts, but how to have an excellent spirit like Daniel? Let me tell you the way:
1. Commit to pray regularly (consistent)
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime” (Dan. 6:11).
Daniel had a commitment to pray regularly, three times a day. Every day he did that consistently. As his career continued to rise, busyness was rampant, he still prayed without reducing its intensity. When a decree was made to forbid him to pray, he still prayed as usual. Daniel’s commitment to continue praying, no matter what happened or did not happen, had made Daniel to have an excellent spirit. He had strength like God, because every day he drew strength from the source.
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isa. 40:31).
The reason why many Christians quickly became tired and lethargic, tired and bored is because they reduced the commitment to pray consistently. You have a commitment to eat and drink every day. That’s why you continue to have strength physically. Even many people have committed to take supplements every day to maintain stamina. If you are not getting the intake of nutritious foods and beverages, your strength and stamina will decrease.
Similarly spiritually, if you don’t get enough intake of nutritious foods and beverages every day, the your spirit strength will decrease. But if you are constantly receiving intake of nutritious foods and beverages, your spirit will be stronger and more excellent.
2. Persevere in holding the promise of God until we see it happens.
“Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it” (Numbers 14:22-24).
All the people who escape from Egypt will not enter the promised land, will not see the fulfillment of God’s promise, except Caleb. The reason is because Caleb had a different spirit. This was a different spirit from most people. This is an excellent spirit like Daniel. While others can not see and reach the fulfillment of God’s promises, Caleb can see and reach it.
The reason is that he had an excellent spirit. But why did he have an excellent spirit? Because he persevere in holding the promise of God until he saw it happened. Caleb said to Joshua:
“And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance” (Joshua 14:9-13).
Hebron was the inheritance that God promised through Moses to Caleb. This is the promise of God that has been confirmed by the leader, not a mere promise that we just claim as God’s promise to us. How long did Caleb hold the promise of God? 45 years! Wow! 45 years? Yes!
How many Christians who persevere in holding the promise of God until 45 years and see it happen in his life? Most of us are more willing to let go that promise and did not feel anything if it didn’t happen. But Caleb had a different spirit! And you also have a different spirit!
You will not let go the promise of God just like that. You will continue to persevere in holding the promise of God until one day you see it happens in your life.
By continuing to persevere in holding the promise of God until you see it happens, without us realizing, our spirits become strong and mighty. A person who is easily let go God’s promises and does not have the passion to see it happens is not going to have a mighty spirit. Persevere in holding the promise of God until you see it happens in your life, and you will jump and shout for joy!
“When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:1-6).
3. Speaking in tongue.
“He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying” (I Cor. 14:4).
The gift of tongue is given by God to help in building our spirit so that our spirit will be edifed and strong. The gift of prophecy is given to build up the church, the gift of interpretation of tongue is as good as the gift of prophecy, which is to build up the church; only different in the way it works.
But we will never be able to be used by God to build the church if we never build ourself. That’s why we have to build ourselves first with the gift of tongue, after we are edified and strong, we will be able to be used by God to build the church with the gift of prophecy and the interpretation of tongue. Only people who have been edified well can be used to build others.
The most complicated problem in the church is often a matter of “people/workers.” Why people who are expected to help often become the source of problems? Because they have been given a task to “build” the church but they themselves have not been “edified” properly. They do not have an excellent spirit.
God has granted us with a simple tool that is planted together with our lives, i.e. tongues, so we can build ourselves to become a strong person and can win in every struggle. Unfortunately, many Christians do not use this simple yet incredibly tool because their ignorance. This is a hidden treasure that is often not explored. Too bad. Less accurate teaching on tongue is one of the reasons why people can not use tongue to build themselves.
Many people also do not want to use tongue just because they’ve seen some Christians who speaks in tongue but whose life is not right. That is a very short-sighted reasons. Have you seen a person that speak English language who is evil? But why you and many others still trying to speak English? You are even willing to pay a lot of money so you can speak English.
Tongue are given free of charge by the Lord to help us in prayer. As we continue to use tongue in prayer, our spirit will be edified well and we become stronger. So if we continue to practice praying in tongue, our spirit will be excellent.
That’s how to have an excellent spirit like Daniel. Good luck!
Read also: The Impacts of Having an Excellent Spirit.
