The spirit of excellence
How to be excellent in everything we do
Daniel 5:12 - Daniel had an excellent spirit, knowledge and understanding. People could see the excellence in his life and works. We must be intentional about exposing our lives to excellence, so that it rubs off on us.
Regarding Daniel 5:12, the passage describes how Daniel had an "excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas."
Here are the key points highlighted about Daniel's excellence:
Daniel had an excellent spirit - He had a spirit of wisdom, discernment, and carrying God's presence. This excellent spirit was evident to others.
He had great knowledge and understanding - Daniel was known for having deep knowledge and understanding of visions, dreams, and mysteries. He had unusual spiritual insight.
He could interpret dreams - God gave Daniel a special ability to interpret dreams and visions that others could not understand. This required divine wisdom.
He was skilled at solving riddles and explaining mysteries - Daniel had a talent for solving difficult puzzles and explaining deep spiritual matters. He had clarity from God.
His excellence was visible to all - Because of all these abilities, Daniel's excellence shone forth and people around him could recognize the extraordinary spirit upon his life.
Overall, Daniel is an example of someone in the Bible who lived a remarkably excellent life. His intimacy with God and spiritual gifts manifested in a way that pointed people to the glory of God through him.
2 Corinthians 9:8 - "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." God can make grace abound so we may excel in every good work.
Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.". This is a reminder that the old life is gone and now Christ lives in us, so we can walk in excellence.
Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." We need to do everything, including our works, with excellence as unto the Lord.
Here are some key actions we can take away
Know and understand our identity in Christ. When we know who we are as children of God, we will operate in boldness, faith and authority over the enemy.
Align our words, actions and character. We must demonstrate excellence through our deeds, not just profess it in words. Repent of any areas we are not walking in excellence.
Be intentional about who we associate with. Surround ourselves with people of excellence who will inspire us to rise higher. Limit relationships that lead us down.
Pursue continuous improvement. No matter how good we get, ask how we can get even better. Add value wherever we are placed.
Use our gifts and abilities wholeheartedly. Excel in giving our time, talents, and resources in service to God and others.
Reflect Christ's excellence in all we do. Whether big tasks or small, do everything as unto the Lord with all our hearts.
Let our light shine. Don't hide our good works, but let others see God's excellence manifested through us.
Depend fully on God's power within us. The excellence comes from Christ in us, not our striving. Abide in Him always.
Surround ourselves with excellence. Seek out books, teachings, atmospheres that call us higher into our destinies.
Be intentional every day. Make conscious choices to live an excellent life through the Spirit's help.
Think and reflect on things we need to build on our excellence