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<\/a>As we continue through the alphabet using the article in Good Housekeeping<\/em> titled \u201cMore Bliss, Less Stress: A to Z Happiness Boosters to Try Today,\u201d[i]<\/a> Jennifer Rainey Marquez brings up the subject of healthy eating. She says that we should \u201cnosh on fruits and vegetables.\u201d If you\u2019re hungry, recent research has connected improved mental well-being to eating five or more portions of fruits and vegetables per day.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Well, I hate to break it to you Ms. Marquez, but I think our biblical friend Daniel knew the importance of eating fruits and vegetables a long time ago.<\/p>\n
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Daniel, as well as a few of Daniel\u2019s friends, was chosen by King Nebuchadnezzar to be groomed for leadership during Israel\u2019s exile to Babylonia. Daniel and his friends were chosen because they fit the criteria.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThen the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and nobility\u2014young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king\u2019s palace.\u201d<\/em> (Daniel 1:3-4 \u2013 NIV)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I suspect this specific criteria limited the number of young men chosen for this assignment. Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego were among this elite group. Very impressive.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What\u2019s even more impressive is that this group of young men were also men of integrity and loyalty to Yahweh. When given the opportunity to eat and drink the king\u2019s finest foods, they asked for \u201cpermission not to defile themselves in this way.\u201d <\/em>(Daniel 1:8 \u2013 NIV)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Instead of eating and drinking what they could have had, they chose to eat nothing but vegetables and drink nothing but water. For ten days, this was the diet of this foursome.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n At the end of the test period, Daniel and his friends were found to look healthier and were better nourished than any of the other men who ate the royal food.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n God recognized this sacrifice and blessed these four young men with knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And to Daniel, God gave the gift of interpreting dreams and visions of all kinds.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When brought before King Nebuchadnezzar, the king found Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego to be ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Perhaps Daniel was thrilled with the king\u2019s response to their knowledge and wisdom, but I suspect Daniel was even more so because of God\u2019s recognition of Daniel\u2019s faithfulness. Daniel lived to serve God. And God honored that dedication.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As you go through our day-to-day life, what are you noshing (eating enthusiastically)? I don\u2019t just mean fruits and vegetables. Do you spend time noshing God\u2019s Word? Are you noshing over the principles and precepts God has given in Scripture? I pray that you are. I pray that God is honoring your dedication and faithfulness to being with Him on a daily basis.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That\u2019s the letter \u201cn.\u201d Noshing. I am blessed to say that I am heading out to go to Bible study this morning. What are you up to?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Grace and peace be yours in abundance,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Donna<\/p>\n