Day 24 | Start As You Mean To Go On

Reflection

Ripped from his homeland, raised in a pagan society, ruled by mercurial and murderous kings, Daniel’s circumstances were seriously disorientating.

But in Daniel 6, the camera pans in through the window, revealing one of the ways Daniel kept himself orientated. Three times a day, he positioned his body to face his homeland, Jerusalem and prayed. This daily practice was both the reason he got thrown into the lion’s den, and, at least partly, the reason he went into it with confidence.

In our world, both digital and analog, there’s plenty to make our heads spin. And we’re bombarded by constant updates and alerts from our brains too! Within seconds of waking up, fear: ‘I’ve got to make that presentation today’. Or anger: ‘I can’t believe my neighbour is being so unreasonable about that tree!’ Or pride: ‘They’re going to think I’m so great’. Godly and humble confidence is a virtue into which we do not naturally drift! Like Daniel, we must be intentional. We need consistent habits that point us to God.

We can stop allowing the primary things shaping our minds to be our phones, our favourite news source, or whatever bubbles up in our brains. And instead of only worrying about our day, we can pray about it, teaching ourselves to reframe whatever lies ahead in light of the gospel, and all its glorious implications for us and those we’ll encounter. We can watch our confidence grow like Daniel’s if each morning we turn to God before we turn on our screens.

Responding in prayer

Dear God, thank you so much for the example of people like Daniel, who found ways to connect with You, even in less-than-perfect circumstances.

Help me find rhythms of meeting with You, of hearing from You.

As I meet with You and receive Your grace, build me up and encourage me, so that I might live with the confidence that comes from You.