Consistency Creates Character

INTRO

Let’s be real — it’s easy to get hyped at a retreat or a youth night, but hard to stay consistent on a random Tuesday afternoon when no one’s watching. Yet, true impact isn’t built on hype... it’s built on habits. In a world where people switch up their values to fit in, God is looking for young people like Daniel — consistent, dependable, unshaken.

When you are consistent, God can trust you to create change — not just in yourself, but in the world around you.

Consistency creates dependability and integrity.

This is one of the reasons Daniel who is whom we will talk about today was favored by Belshazzar (previous king) and King Darius.

Daniel 6:7–10 ESV

All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction. When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Daniel 6:7–10 RVR95BTO

Todos los gobernadores del reino, magistrados, sátrapas, príncipes y capitanes han acordado por consejo que promulgues un edicto real, y lo confirmes, ordenando que cualquiera que en el espacio de treinta días demande petición de cualquier dios u hombre fuera de ti, rey, sea echado al foso de los leones. Ahora, pues, oh rey, confirma el edicto y fírmalo, para que no pueda ser revocado, conforme a la ley de Media y de Persia, que no puede ser abrogada. Firmó, pues, el rey Darío el edicto y la prohibición. Cuando Daniel supo que el edicto había sido firmado, entró en su casa; abiertas las ventanas de su habitación que daban a Jerusalén, se arrodillaba tres veces al día, oraba y daba gracias delante de su Dios como solía hacerlo antes.

Main Points

I. Consistency in Character

Daniel 1:8 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.

Daniel 1:8 RVR95BTO

Daniel propuso en su corazón no contaminarse con la porción de la comida del rey ni con el vino que él bebía; pidió, por tanto, al jefe de los eunucos que no se le obligara a contaminarse.

Daniel chose integrity over compromise.

He didn’t wait to see what the crowd would do — he had already made up his mind.

Resolved

Decided

You need to be resolute, firm, stern, and decided on what you choose.

If you choose Jesus then Choose him in everything.

Let your yes be yes.

Youth Application: Decide your values before the pressure hits.

Practice:

Choose scenarios in your head right now where you need to say no or yes.

II. Consistency in Conviction

Daniel 6:10 ESV

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Daniel 6:10 RVR95BTO

Cuando Daniel supo que el edicto había sido firmado, entró en su casa; abiertas las ventanas de su habitación que daban a Jerusalén, se arrodillaba tres veces al día, oraba y daba gracias delante de su Dios como solía hacerlo antes.

Daniel didn’t pray because he was in trouble — he prayed because he always did.

That says a lot. Because a lot of times we pray only when we are down, troubled, sad, or in need.

But when you pray at all times then you can say even through your happy moment and your troubled moment, HOLD ON I gotta pray.

Tell your neighbor Hold on! I gotta give God the praise.

Even a lion’s den couldn’t shake his routine.

Youth Application: Your spiritual disciplines will sustain you when life gets shaky.

III. Consistency Brings Influence and Trust

Daniel 6:3 ESV

Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

Daniel 6:3 RVR95BTO

Pero Daniel mismo era superior a estos sátrapas y gobernadores, porque había en él un espíritu superior; y el rey pensó en ponerlo sobre todo el reino.

Influence doesn’t come from being flashy — it comes from being faithful.

Don’t be the fake friend in the group.

Every friendship circle has that one friend that you just won’t call cause you don’t trust them 100%

Youth Application: Be consistent, and watch how God opens doors you didn’t chase.

IV. Consistency Comes from Relationship, Not Religion

John 15:5 ESV

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5 RVR95BTO

»Yo soy la vid, vosotros los pámpanos; el que permanece en mí y yo en él, este lleva mucho fruto, porque separados de mí nada podéis hacer.

Daniel wasn’t religious — he was relational. He loved God.

Youth Application: Let your relationship with God shape your rhythm, not the rules.

Always say that “if God is first in your life, your life will decisions will show it”

Don’t tell me God is first in your life but you don’t make time for him

Don’t tell me God is first, second or third but you can’t bother to open your bible for 1 minute a day CONSISTENTLY.

Don’t tell me God is first in your life if you don’t have a prayer life.

A lot of people like the idea of Jesus as their savior but not as their Lord.

Wait I have to follow you where Jesus?

If you are not abiding in Him than where are you abiding?

If you are not abiding in Jesus then what kind of fruit are you bearing?

Consistency comes from the Love that you have toward God.

That love will drive you to make the decision every day to follow you Lord.

That love will drive you to do things your body might not want to.

Conclusion

God used Daniel to influence kings and empires — not because he was the loudest, but because he was the most consistent.

If you want your life to make change, stay consistent. What you do every day shapes who you become. Don’t chase the spotlight. Chase faithfulness.

Challenge: What’s one area of your life that God is asking you to be consistent in? Prayer? Kindness? Purity? Start today.

Self Reflection Questions

What pressures challenge your consistency?

What habits would people associate with you?

What does consistent faith look like in your school?

What small spiritual habit can you build starting today?