Trusting God: Building Legacy Through Discipline and Choices

Devotional

Day 1: Choosing God’s Way Over Comfort and Culture

Daniel and his friends found themselves in a foreign land, surrounded by comforts and opportunities that could have easily led them to forget their faith and identity. Instead of blending in and accepting what was offered, Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the king’s food, choosing discipline and faithfulness to God over the comfort and approval of the culture around him. This act of quiet resistance was not just about food, but about where his ultimate allegiance lay. In a world that constantly invites us to compromise, Daniel’s story reminds us that true legacy is built by daily, intentional choices to honor God, even when it’s uncomfortable or misunderstood. [27:35]

Daniel 1:8-16 (ESV)
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. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 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.” Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food.

Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to go along with the crowd instead of honoring God, and what is one specific step you can take today to choose God’s way over comfort?

Day 2: Do Everything for the Glory of God

Every action, no matter how small or routine, carries weight and significance when done for God’s glory. Whether it’s eating, drinking, working, or leading your family, your daily choices can either bring healing or hurt, success or struggle, to those around you. The call is to live intentionally, recognizing that your habits and disciplines are shaping not just your own life, but the lives of those you influence. When you dedicate your actions to God, you build a legacy that honors Him and blesses others. [30:45]

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Reflection: What is one ordinary activity you do every day that you can intentionally dedicate to God’s glory today, and how might that change your attitude or approach?

Day 3: Discipline Alone Isn’t Enough—Seek God’s Direction

It’s possible to be highly disciplined and still miss God’s best if you’re not seeking His direction. Daniel was not only disciplined in his habits, but he also listened for God’s guidance and trusted God’s outcome, even when it didn’t make sense to others. True spiritual formation requires both self-discipline and a willingness to surrender control, trusting that God’s plans are better than our own. Sometimes, the hardest discipline is waiting on God and not taking matters into your own hands. [32:06]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Reflection: Is there an area where you’re relying on your own discipline or understanding instead of seeking God’s direction? What would it look like to surrender that area to Him today?

Day 4: God Uses Unexpected Paths for Your Good

Many people in Scripture, like Moses and Joseph, found themselves in places they never expected, facing trials and disappointments. Yet, God used those very circumstances for their good and the good of others because they continued to seek Him. Even when your dreams don’t work out as planned or you feel lost, you are in good company—and God is still at work. Your current situation can be a place of blessing and growth if you keep seeking God’s direction. [34:06]

Romans 8:28 (ESV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Reflection: Think of a disappointment or unexpected turn in your life—how might God be using it for your good or the good of others if you continue to seek Him?

Day 5: Your Legacy Is Built by Daily Disciplines

Legacy isn’t just about what you leave behind someday; it’s about what you’re building right now through every discipline and decision. The world may not understand your sacrifices or the reasons behind your choices, especially when you follow Jesus. But every act of faithfulness, no matter how small, is worth it and shapes the story you’ll leave for others. Don’t underestimate the power of your daily disciplines to create a legacy that honors God and blesses generations. [36:17]

Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Reflection: What is one small, consistent discipline you can commit to today that will help build the kind of legacy you want to leave?

Sermon Summary

Many times, life takes us places we never expected to go. I never imagined myself in church leadership, let alone speaking on Father’s Day, but God has a way of finding us and redirecting our paths. Reflecting on my own journey, I shared about a high school assignment where I set an audacious goal to be drafted into Major League Baseball straight out of high school—a dream my teacher dismissed as unrealistic. Yet, sometimes the world’s standards and expectations are not the same as God’s, and our willingness to trust Him can lead us to places beyond what others can see.

This theme is echoed in the story of Daniel and his friends, who found themselves in Babylonian captivity. Despite being offered comfort and privilege, Daniel chose not to defile himself with the king’s food, instead betting on God’s way, even when it didn’t make sense to those around him. Daniel’s discipline wasn’t just about food; it was about allegiance, trust, and the daily choices that build a legacy. The story reminds us that comfort can lull us into complacency, but true legacy is built through intentional, often quiet, self-discipline rooted in God’s direction.

What we do matters—not just for ourselves, but for those we lead and influence. Our actions can bring healing or hurt, success or struggle. We are capable of breaking generational cycles or continuing them, depending on the disciplines we choose. Yet, discipline alone isn’t enough; direction from God is essential. It’s possible to be disciplined and still miss God’s best if we’re not listening for His guidance.

Even when life doesn’t go as planned, and we find ourselves in unexpected places, God is still at work. Like Daniel, Moses, and Joseph, we may not have chosen our circumstances, but God can use them for our good and the good of others if we keep seeking Him. Our legacy isn’t just what we leave behind someday—it’s what we’re building today, through every decision and discipline, even when others don’t understand. The sacrifices and disciplines that seem invisible or misunderstood by others are often the very things God uses to shape our story and impact.

Key Takeaways

1. The world may dismiss your dreams as unrealistic, but God’s plans often exceed human expectations. Trusting God sometimes means holding onto hope and discipline even when others can’t see what He’s doing in your life. Don’t let the limitations others place on you define your future—God’s vision is bigger than theirs. [25:30]
2. Comfort can be a subtle trap, lulling us into routines that lack spiritual discipline. Daniel’s refusal to eat the king’s food wasn’t just about diet—it was a declaration of dependence on God over culture. True legacy is built not by blending in, but by daily, intentional choices that honor God, even when they set us apart. [27:35]
3. Every action, no matter how small, has the potential to bring healing or hurt, success or struggle, to those around us. Our disciplines ripple outward, shaping our families, communities, and the kingdom of God. Consider carefully what you’re building with your daily choices, because your influence is greater than you realize. [30:45]
4. Discipline is essential, but it must be paired with God’s direction. It’s possible to be highly disciplined and still miss God’s best if we’re not listening for His voice. Like Daniel, we must be willing to trust God’s outcomes, even when they don’t make sense to us or those around us. [32:06]
5. When life doesn’t go as planned and you find yourself in unexpected places, remember you’re in good company—many of God’s people have walked that road. God can use your trials for your good and the good of others if you keep seeking Him. Your legacy is being built today, through every discipline and decision, even when the world doesn’t understand. [33:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Introduction and Father’s Day Reflections
[02:10] - My Journey to Church Leadership
[04:00] - High School Dreams and Disappointment
[07:30] - The Power of Unrealistic Goals
[10:15] - Daniel’s Story: Context and Captivity
[12:30] - The King’s Command and Daniel’s Resolve
[15:00] - The Daniel Fast Explained
[17:20] - Comfort vs. Discipline
[19:00] - The Ripple Effect of Our Choices
[21:00] - Discipline and God’s Direction
[23:00] - Trusting God in the Waiting
[25:30] - When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned
[28:00] - Building a Legacy Through Daily Choices
[30:00] - My Draft Story and God’s Faithfulness
[32:00] - Final Encouragement and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Daniel 1:4-16 — (Daniel and his friends choose not to defile themselves with the king’s food, trusting God’s way over cultural comfort.)

- 1 Corinthians 10:31
(“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”)

Observation Questions

What specific choice did Daniel and his friends make regarding the king’s food, and what reasons are given in the passage for their decision?
According to the sermon, what were some possible reasons the king’s food was considered “unacceptable” for Daniel and his friends?
In 1 Corinthians 10:31, what does Paul say should be the motivation behind everything we do, even in ordinary things like eating and drinking?
The sermon mentions that Daniel and his friends looked healthier after the test. What does this outcome suggest about trusting God’s direction over cultural expectations?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Daniel’s refusal to eat the king’s food was about more than just diet? What did it reveal about his allegiance and trust?
The sermon says, “A legacy worth leaving isn’t something that you just stumble into. It’s something that you build intentionally, daily, and often quietly through self-disciplines.” How does Daniel’s story illustrate this principle?
The speaker shared about his high school dream being dismissed as “unrealistic.” How does this relate to the way the world often views God-sized dreams or acts of faith?
The sermon warns that “comfort can be a subtle trap.” In what ways can comfort or routine keep us from following God’s direction or building a godly legacy?

Application Questions

The world may dismiss your dreams as unrealistic, but God’s plans often exceed human expectations. Is there a dream or calling you’ve set aside because others said it was impossible? What would it look like to trust God with it again?
Daniel’s discipline was about more than food—it was about allegiance to God. Are there areas in your life where you’re tempted to “blend in” with culture instead of standing out for God? What’s one small step you could take this week to honor God in that area?
The sermon says, “What you’re doing may cause healing, but also what you’re doing may cause hurt.” Think about your daily routines and choices. Is there a habit or pattern you want to change because of the influence it has on those around you?
Discipline alone isn’t enough; direction from God is essential. Are there areas where you’re disciplined but maybe not listening for God’s direction? How can you make space to hear from God this week?
When life doesn’t go as planned, the sermon reminds us we’re in good company—Moses, Joseph, Daniel. Can you share about a time when your plans fell apart, but God used it for good? How did you see God at work in the unexpected?
The speaker said, “Your legacy isn’t what you leave behind someday. It’s what you’re building through every discipline and decision that you make today.” What is one discipline or decision you want to start (or stop) this week to build a godly legacy?
The sacrifices and disciplines that seem invisible or misunderstood by others are often the very things God uses to shape our story. Is there a “hidden” discipline in your life that you struggle to keep up because no one else sees it? How can this group encourage you to keep going?

Sermon Clips

ButGod just finds a way of finding you, huh? So I had goals. This just wasn't one of them. [00:24:15]

But there's someone else in the Bible who had goals, who followed God, and ended up somewhere that they never saw themselves being. [00:26:20]

But what this also shows is how you can get stuck being comfortable and forget that you're in need of having any disciplines. [00:28:59]

But the big issue with not having disciplines is not that it only affects you, but it affects all of those around you, especially those you lead. So fathers, especially those that you lead. [00:29:07]

Well, today, just like back then, we can get comfortable going along with culture, doing what everyone around us is doing. And when we go along with the culture and what other people are doing, we typically will end up becoming someone that we never planned. And that is a big problem. [00:29:23]

A legacy worth leaving isn't something that you just stumble into. It's something that you build intentionally, daily, and often quietly through self -disciplines. [00:29:48]

What Daniel decided in this chapter is that he wasn't just going to do what makes sense to other people. What he decided is that he was going to bet on God, knowing that God had already won that wager. [00:30:15]

A similar verse to the Daniel story is located in 1 Corinthians 10, verse 31. It says, whether they for you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. [00:30:45]

Now, that means you aren't doing it for a boss. You're not doing it for a coach, all you athletes. You're not doing it for a spouse. You're not doing it for a king. Everything you do should be done for the glory of God. [00:30:55]

Let me take it a step further. What you're doing may cause healing, but also what you're doing may cause hurt. What you're doing may bring successes, but also what you're doing may bring struggles. Either way, what you're doing matters. So make sure that it makes a positive difference for your family, your friends, your community, and especially for the kingdom of God. [00:31:13]

I want you guys to know that you're capable of more than you give yourself credit for. But there's a flip to that. You're capable of breaking the generational cycles that have plagued your family for years and years. Or you're capable of continuing them. Or even worse, you're capable of creating new ones.if you lack self -discipline. [00:31:43]

Disciplines are on you, but the direction is from God. A lot of us can be super disciplined, almost to a fault, to the point where we never get to where Daniel was. Almost like you need to be so in control that you rely on yourself and your own understanding rather than God. [00:32:12]

It's important to remember, you can be disciplined and still be disobedient if you're not listening for God's direction. [00:32:48]

Now, Daniel didn't just resist the king's food. He trusted and bet on God's outcome. And that's often the hardest discipline, waiting for the results. [00:32:58]

But in all seriousness, if you're in a place in your life where you have no idea how you ended up here, that dream may not have worked out, you're upset at your current situation, I just want you to know that you're in good company. [00:33:36]

But regardless, God blessed him there because he continued to seek God. God has a way of using your trials for your good and the good of those around you. All you have to do is seek God for your direction. [00:33:59]

Whatever it is, just keep God at the center of it. [00:34:28]

If there's only one thought that you can remember from this message, let it be this. Your legacy isn't what you leave behind someday. It's what you're building through every discipline and decision that you make today. [00:34:33]

Like I said, many people around you aren't going to understand the discipline and the confidence that you have or the decisions that you make, especially when you're deciding to follow Jesus. But I promise you, it'll be worth every second in sacrifice that you make in this lifetime. [00:36:21]

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