Excellence: How to fight a Good Fight

Excellence means the best of you!
Excellence is a unique weapon to fight a good fight of faith.  Excellence means bringing out the best of who you are, and influencing your world with the best in you. 

As we all know that excellence is not ordinary, so you need an extraordinary connection, which is the power of God to be excellent in life. 

By definitions, excellence means above, distinguished, exceeding in a good way. Excellence also means being the best in what you do. Let's look at the popular excellent man in the Bible; Daniel. 

The king took a special interest in Daniel because of the excellent spirit in him. (Read Daniel 6:1-5 below)​. 

Daniel 6:1-5 NKJV
6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. 4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

Literally, excellence brings you to the point of no fault just like Daniel. An excellence spirit distinguishes and mark you out for promotion. At the same time, excellence will expose you to persecution due to jealousy of the onlookers. 

In the book of Daniel 5:12 -14, Daniel had special skills and filled with the excellence spirit, he was favoured and recognised in the whole city. 

The excellent spirit marks you for promotion, but also makes you a target.
​Dr Femi Fenojo

Daniel 5:12 -14 NKJV
12 Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and [a]explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.”
​13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel [b]who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my [c]father the king brought from Judah? 14 I have heard of you, that the [d]Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.

In contrast, the same excellence spirit that brought favour also positioned Daniel on the battle line to fight the good fight.  Fortunately, Daniel showcased excellency even in the test of life for he fought the good fight and excelled without denying God. 

It is pertinent to mention that Daniel's persecutors understood that his source of excellence lies solely in his intimate relationship with God and so, they attempted to break that good link. And not only did they attempt to break his source of excellence, they also connived to persecute Daniel via his relationship with God.  Such is life.

And what do we learn from this story? By confirming that 'My God .......' as recorded in Daniel 6:21, Daniel prevailed against his enemies. Likewise, you and I will face the threats when we step above the ordinary line. At that point, many will rise to pull you down, discourage or disconnect you from your source of help. However, do not yield to them. Do not look back away from God. 

Irrespective of the threats and odd situations, stand to fight the good fight by being the best of you and confirming that 'My God' is with me just like Daniel did. Obviously, the best time to show the best of who you are is in the times of challenges, difficulty, assignments, tasks etc. By doing it best or enduring the race to completion makes you stand out.  Thus, dare to be the best of who you are!

Always remember that Our God is excellent in all His ways and as we draw nearer to Him, in as much as we behold Him, we continue to radiate, emulate and express His divine excellency in our lives. ​

Today, I encourage you to bring out the best in all you do - do it diligently, excellently! 

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might......Ecclesiastes 9:10

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