Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. ^{Daniel 6:3}

While Daniel was a captive, he distinguished himself by attitude and unwavering devotion to the will of God. Known as a man with an “excellent spirit,” he was preferred above all the others. An excellent spirit is an excellent attitude. Our attitude is how we respond to the circumstances in life, and excellence is a positive attitude of service, contentment, and gratitude no matter the situation. It is consistent optimism and the desire to do well that endears us to others, especially to those who look to us for performance. Those with an excellent attitude are often rewarded with promotion and responsibility, just as Daniel was.

To a large extent, we can manage our attitudes, choosing to be optimistic, happy, and content. Our attitudes are also influenced by what we put in our heads and the kind of people we associate with. If we spend time in dark places and with negative, destructive people, then our attitudes will turn dark and destructive as well. An excellent attitude is both the cause and the result of the right behavior. We do the right thing because of a good attitude and doing the right thing lifts us up. To an amazing degree, our attitude determines our destiny. God approves a positive, humble attitude and those winsome souls go much farther in life than those with a negative, pessimistic, or otherwise bad attitude.  It is obvious that an excellent spirit is a testimony to the goodness of God, and a powerful witness to the world.