Confidence Devotional JourneySample
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.
Scripture
About this Plan
In theory, we all know we can be confident in our faith, and when we’re gathered together with other Christians, we often feel full of confidence. But when daily life hits, it can all drain away. How can we change that, with God’s help? This Lent devotional journey will help you grow deep faith-confidence that lasts from Sunday into the rest of your week, so you can boldly join in God’s work right where you are. Over the 40 days of Lent, you’ll reflect on six key ways we can grow in confidence: 1. Confidence through being convinced 2. Confidence through community 3. Confidence through compassion 4. Confidence through consistency 5. Confidence through competence 6. Confidence through courage
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We would like to thank LICC - The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: https://licc.org.uk