Daniel 1:20 – “And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.”
Today, people talk a lot about “10xing” their life—whether it’s their business, their goals, or their personal growth. The idea is to not just improve but to multiply your results by ten. It’s an exciting concept, but it makes you wonder: how do you actually do it?
The Bible gives us an example of “10x better” in the story of Daniel and his three friends: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. When King Nebuchadnezzar brought them into his court, he found them to be ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers in his kingdom.
So, how did they become 10 times better? It wasn’t luck or natural talent. The answer lies in three key qualities: brokenness, boldness, and blessedness. Let’s look at what that means.
To Be 10x Better, You Must Be Broken
Daniel and his friends had a rough start in life. They were taken from their homes when Babylon conquered Jerusalem. Their families were likely killed or left behind. They were dragged to a strange country, stripped of their identity, and even made eunuchs—unable to marry or have children. If this happened today, they’d be on every PTSD medication you could think of. Their pain would have been overwhelming.
But instead of letting their brokenness destroy them, they let it mold them. They chose to trust God, even when life didn’t make sense. Their suffering made them stronger, not weaker.
If you look through the Bible, you’ll see this pattern everywhere. Every person God uses to do something great first goes through a season of breaking:
• Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and thrown into prison before becoming a ruler in Egypt.
• Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before God called him to lead Israel out of slavery.
• Paul endured beatings, shipwrecks, and imprisonment before becoming one of the greatest missionaries of all time.
Brokenness is part of God’s plan to prepare us for something greater. The deeper the suffering, the greater the success. That’s how God works.
To Be 10x Better, You Must Be Bold
When Daniel and his friends were brought to the king’s court, they were offered the king’s food and wine. This might not sound like a big deal, but for them, it was. The food didn’t follow God’s laws, and eating it would have meant disobeying Him. Saying no to the king’s food was bold—it could’ve cost them their lives.
But these young men were determined to follow God no matter what. They asked for vegetables and water instead. Imagine the pressure they felt! They were standing up to the most powerful king in the world, and if their plan failed, they’d be dead. But they trusted God, and He honored their boldness. After ten days, they looked healthier than anyone else.
Being bold for God isn’t easy. It often means standing alone or risking something big. But boldness is necessary if you want to be better for the Lord. Think about David when he faced Goliath or Esther when she risked her life to save her people. Boldness shows that you trust God more than you fear the world.
To Be 10x Better, You Must be Blessed
Finally, to be 10x better, you must be blessed by God.
Daniel 1:17 says, “As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”
Notice where their wisdom and skill came from—it wasn’t something they earned or learned on their own. God gave they the ability to learn. Their brokenness prepared them, their boldness proved them, and God’s blessing set them apart.
The same is true for us today. Without God’s blessing, we can’t accomplish anything that truly matters. Jesus said in John 15:5, “Without me ye can do nothing.” Everything good in our lives comes from Him, and if we want to be “10x better,” we need His favor and help.
Daniel and his friends didn’t become 10x better by accident. They were broken, bold, and blessed. That’s the recipe for extraordinary success with God.
• If you’re going through a tough time, let God use it to refine you.
• If you’re facing a hard decision, be bold and stand for what’s right.
• And most importantly, seek God’s blessing. Nothing truly great happens without Him.
