3 August | Teens
«But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.» Daniel 1:8
Daniel was a young man from a noble family in Judah who had three friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. After Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem, they were taken to Babylon. When they got there, they faced a great challenge: they had to learn new things and eat different foods, which were offered to idols. But Daniel and his friends wanted to remain faithful to God and decided not to eat that food.
They asked to eat only vegetables and fruit. Sounds strange, right? But they knew it was best for them to keep their faith and health. After ten days, something amazing happened: they were healthier and better looking than the others who ate the king's food!
This story shows us how important it is to be firm in our decisions, especially when we know it's the right thing to do. Daniel and his friends chose what was good for them, even if it seemed difficult at first. And as much as the treats, pizzas, burgers and fries are delicious (did it make your mouth water?), we also need to eat the things that are healthy, because it does us a lot of good! Eating vegetables and fruit can be very tasty too! They help us grow strong and healthy, just like Daniel and his friends.
Take Action
How about a challenge? For a week, try to eat more vegetables and fruit. Try new flavors and see how you feel. You might even discover a new favorite food! Remember, choosing what's healthy is a great decision, just like Daniel and his friends did.