With EVERYTHING

What will it take for us to go a little more deeper… a little more further… a little more innovative and creative?

There was a young man in the bible that was taken away in exile and during his dark season produced the most excellent character and works.  He took his situation and didn’t count it as a loss but made it an opportunity for him to be tested for GREATNESS.

He knew who he was and WHOSE he belonged too –even in an adverse situation that was against all hope.  He wasn’t free–he was held captive –a prisoner. But all through that he lived a more excellent way.  He tested those that came before him to TEST him.  So that the true royalty upon his life would be in complete demonstration and manifestation.

What are you manifesting in your moments of captivity?

What are you demonstrating in the dark seasons of your life?

What are excelling in when it feels like you have been imprisoned?

Are you willing to give MORE? Are you willing to do things with EVERYTHING that you know that you have to give! That is what you call EXCELLENT. Dictionary.com says that to be excellent is possessing outstanding quality or superior merit; remarkably good. It means that it is above average, above the norm.

What will it cost you to give it all? What will it cost you to give one more step or one more push to EXCEL?

The Bible says in Daniel Chapter 1:6-19

Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.  The Chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.  But Daniel resolved not to define himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.  Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink.  Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please TEST your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.  Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he AGREED to this and TESTED then for ten days.  At the end of the ten days they looked HEALTHIER and BETTER nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.  So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.  To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning.  And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.  The king talked with them, and he found NONE EQUAL to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.

You have to understand that in the TEST you have to DO! And not just a little, an effort, a move, a task here or there but you have to give your all! It’s all in.  All or nothing. Understanding what the will of the Lord is and carrying out to fulfillment for the rest.

Even then in the very beginning of the test, we see that God was an advocate for Daniel because he was DIFFERENT.  He had a relationship with God.  He had the favor of God.  Daniel didn’t wait to be told to do something, he acted out and took a step of faith.  He took a step of excellence.

Look at the results of their excellence.  There was none found equal to these men.  That means they were OUTSTANDING… it means that they were excellent. They were promoted from the kings prison to the kings palace.

What can we do in our level of service to God, to our families, at our jobs, at church or any place that we volunteer to help. Can we be the BEST? Can we give the best? What can do to take a step further? Can we give all that we have to obtain the goal of a united community and environment of collaboration? This is what God wants us to do. The result is good. The result is favor. The result is that even when it is tough, dark or difficult that God will be the advocate for you to make you stand out among the rest.

Promotion is knocking on your door.  Favor is chasing you down. Transition is coming your way.  Good things are in store for you and your family.  Transformation is inevitable.  The harvest is here. All we have to do is give it our best and nothing less. Because less than that –is simply not excellent.

We can just be one step away from excellence. One day, one touch, one word, one moment, one opportunity, one act of faith –to say, “Test your servant!”

With everything.

Innovate. Create. Lead with diligence and excellence, so that you can walk in the harvest God designated for you.

With Love,
Christina ❤

C