Raising Daniels
A Season of Reflection
It was June of this year, and I found myself at the start of one of the most challenging seasons of parenting—and life—I’ve ever faced. I had to stop and ask myself hard questions: What had I missed? How do I raise kids in a world that fights so hard against me? I was inspired by what isn’t said—but is loudly implied—in the story of Daniel: the invisible, faithful work of parents shaping children to stand strong in a culture that doesn’t honor God.
I opened my journal that day and began to write down my thoughts, fears, and questions about my own parenting. I was on the edge of a cliff we would eventually fall down, and I needed clarity on what Kingdom excellence in raising my children really looked like. It is now the beginning of December and I think we are in the climb back up. Just one step at a time. Some days we slide a little down and start again.
Lessons from Daniel
As I journaled, I turned to the book of Daniel, and the story leapt off the page. Right away we are thrown into the messiness of Judah’s captivity by Babylon. This was the cycle of sin the Israelites repeatedly went through: obey God ——-> get comfortable in their blessings ——-> fall away in sin ——-> enter captivity ——-> call out to God again. The people of Judah had been so disobedient that God had to send them into captivity so they might call on Him again.
We meet a young man named Daniel. He is reported to be a young man of intelligence, skills, and good looks. He is gathered with other men like himself to enter into the service of King Nebuchadnezzar. These men were brought into a special place and given the best of the king’s food. However, in verse 8, Daniel decided not to eat the food and drink put before him, as it was considered unclean according to God’s law.
Daniel made an agreement with the keeper of these young men to only eat clean fruit and vegetables and drink only water. Over the course of 40 days, Daniel and his friends grew healthier than all the men who ate of the king’s food. It says in verse 17, “God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” The favor from God positioned him to excel and serve the king personally. In fact, he and his companions were found to be “ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in his realm” (1:20).
What the Others Didn’t Do
What struck me most was what wasn’t said about the other young men. Those who allowed themselves to be defiled by the king’s food blended into the surrounding culture. They did not stand out. They were lost to history, never making a mark on it. It was the choices Daniel and his friends made, rooted in their upbringing and faithfulness, that set them apart and positioned them to impact the world around them.
Raising Children Before Babylon
It occurred to me that for Daniel to have held so strongly to his beliefs, he must have been raised in a home that taught him the Law, raised him to fear God, and serve with excellence. There is not even a mention of his parents or lineage. We don’t know his tribe, his father’s line, or where he lived. But it is evident, based on his actions throughout the book of Daniel, that he had been raised by parents who, despite living in a time of rebellion against God, chose faithfulness when their nation did not. Daniel’s parents created a home where excellence was cultivated, where education was important, even if it was informal. Daniel was well-spoken, bold, courageous, and willing to lose it all. That didn’t come from a home with weak leadership or uninvolved parents.
I admire Daniel’s parents (and those of his companions) who were not pulled aside by the current trend in their country. They raised men of excellence. And because of the commitment to honor God’s laws, God blessed them with favor and great ability to learn the language, literature, culture, and law of the Chaldeans. Their early formation is what enabled them to thrive in a culture that did not honor the God they served.
We live in a modern-day Babylon—not in a prophetic sense, but in the sense that our dominant culture is often opposed to God, morally confused, proud, self-reliant, idolatrous, and pressuring our children to conform. And this is the world our children are going out into.
Kingdom Excellence in Education
Kingdom excellence in education is more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic. It is about carrying a culture and a message of honor, conviction, resilience, strength, and excellence. It is impossible to teach our children everything they could possibly need to know—there’s so much content out there! But who we teach them to BE will far outweigh knowledge alone. The choices we make in educating them, the values and habits we instill, will determine whether they stand out or blend in.
Parents, the Responsibility is Yours
Parents, it is our responsibility to educate our children. I am not saying everyone has to homeschool; I am saying that no matter how you choose to educate them, the responsibility is yours to ensure it is done well and with Kingdom excellence. We cannot outsource the formation of our children’s hearts, minds, and worldview.
Daniel wasn’t shaped by Babylon—he was shaped before Babylon.
And so are our kids. The world will form them if we don’t.
But if we build with faithfulness, courage, and intentionality,
we can raise Daniels—children who stand strong, shine brightly, and carry God’s wisdom into whatever culture they step into.
It is an education of excellence that positions them to enter places of influence, stand before leaders, and bring Kingdom wisdom and solutions to the world’s problems.
But obedience and faithfulness precede the favor and blessings of God’s positioning.
Raise them strong.
Raise them brave.
Raise them excellent.
Homeschool parents, if you want to raise your own “Daniels”—children who stand strong, think deeply, and carry God’s wisdom into the world—I can help you create a Kingdom-focused education that cultivates excellence, character, and faithfulness. Let’s walk this journey together.
