Live Like Devotional Series for Young People: DanielНамуна

Day 4: POLITE, PERSUASIVE, AND PERSISTENT

📖 Scripture: Daniel 1:11-14 | Daniel 1:18-19 | Daniel 6:10 | Daniel 10:3

Devotion: The Power of Politeness, Persuasion, and Persistence

After Daniel made the decision not to defile himself, he still had to convince those in charge to support his choice. It’s one thing to decide to stand firm in your beliefs, but it’s another to get others on board, especially when they hold authority in your life.

Sometimes, we want to make different choices or stand up for what’s right, but it’s not always easy to change minds. How do we get others—whether friends, teachers, bosses, or parents—to support our decisions? Daniel shows us the way.

1. Politeness

When Daniel made his request, he didn’t demand or force his opinion on anyone. He was polite and respectful. In one version of the text, he says, “I beseech you”—a humble and respectful way to ask. In another, he simply says, “Please test us” (Daniel 1:12). He wasn’t rude or harsh. He knew that being polite would open doors for dialogue and understanding.

2. Persuasion

Daniel didn’t just ask for what he wanted; he made it a win-win situation for the person he was speaking to. He proposed a challenge: “Give us 10 days, and then compare us to the others.” He presented his request in a way that allowed the person in charge to feel in control, while still getting the chance to see if Daniel’s idea would work. This was persuasive because it respected the eunuch’s authority, but also gave him an opportunity to see Daniel’s request succeed.

3. Persistence

Daniel wasn’t just polite and persuasive—he was persistent. Even when the king’s law made it illegal to pray, Daniel didn’t stop. He kept praying three times a day, no matter the consequences (Daniel 6:10). He also fasted and prayed for 21 days until his prayers were answered (Daniel 10:3). Daniel teaches us that persistence, especially in prayer, can bring about the answers we need.

💭 Reflection Questions

• When you need others to support your decisions, do you approach them with respect and politeness, or do you push too hard?
• In what areas of your life do you need to be more persuasive in a way that shows respect for others’ roles and decisions?
• Are there areas where you need to be more persistent, even when things don’t seem to change immediately?

🙏 Prayer

Lord,
Help me to be polite in my requests, persuasive in my approach, and persistent in my efforts. Teach me to respect others, while also standing firm in what I believe. Just like Daniel, help me to know when to ask, how to ask, and when to keep asking. May my actions and words bring You glory, and may I never give up on the things You have called me to.
Amen.

✍️ Journaling Prompt

• Think about a time when you had to ask someone for something important. How did you approach them? Were you polite, persuasive, and persistent?
• Is there a situation now where you need to stand firm and be persistent in your beliefs or requests? Write it down and pray about it.

🔑 Key Verse

“So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.”
— Daniel 1:14 (NIV)