Convictions that Shape Our Lives
Daniel 1:5-10
5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he
drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand
before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah.
7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called
Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine
that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And
God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of
the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for
why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So
you would endanger my head with the king.” 1
I. What is a spiritual conviction?
a. “CONVICTION, in general, is the assurance of the truth of any proposition. In a
religious sense, it is the first degree of repentance, and implies an affecting sense of
our guilt before God; and that we deserve and are exposed to his wrath.” 2
b. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 3 —
John 16:8
i. A conviction is a firm belief that something is true.
ii. A firm conviction is a firm belief that you stand by regardless of the
consequence because you know that the conviction is true.
II. A conviction is going to change the course of your life.
a. APPLICATION: What you believe is true will guide what you do.
b. Illustration: When I was a little boy, my grandmother would let me drive down
the driveway. She would have her foot on the brake in case something went
crazy, and I had the steering wheel. The truth was I wasn’t ready to drive by
myself, that is why she had her foot on the brake. That ACTION revealed what
was true, I wasn’t ready so she had a safety action.
The action steps you take in life reveal what you believe.
III. How did Daniel hold to his convictions?
a. 20 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom
and might. 21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives
wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; 4 — Daniel 2:20-21
b. Daniel believed what is said here in the text.
i. He was loyal to God because he knew it was God who was truly on the
throne.
ii. It was God’s law that truly mattered.
1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), Da 1:5–10.
2 Richard Watson, “Conviction,” in A Biblical and Theological Dictionary (New York: Lane & Scott,
1851), 268.
3 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), Jn 16:8.
4 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), Da 2:20–21.
iii. In seventeenth-century England the Protestant Reformation was in
turmoil, and a civil war had erupted. The English king sought to impose his
“divine right” to rule over the Protestant churches. A Scottish Presbyterian
pastor Samuel Rutherford published a book in 1644, titled Lex, Rex (“The
Law Is King”), to point out that the king is not above divine law. His theme
was the same as that of the apostles who told the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem,
“We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
IV. What are your spiritual convictions?
a. What do you believe and know to be true?
b. How is that truth shaping your decisions right now?
c. Have you ever written down your convictions?
V. CONVICTIONS WILL GIVE YOU A STEADINESS IN LIFE DESPITE
YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES.
a. Daniel had more assurance than the king, who thought he was the most powerful
man on earth.
b. Daniel had clarity despite the removal of all his security and surroundings.
