Daily EncouragementSample

“ . . . just as he had done before.” Here was a supreme example of courage and consistency. “It was absolutely impossible for the lions to eat Daniel,” said C. H. Spurgeon, “because the most of him was backbone and the rest grit.” It certainly took courage to be consistent when the decree was published and the hungry lions were waiting. There was a great simplicity about his behaviour too. He made no use of any subtle plans or subterfuges. The stairway to his upstairs room was familiar, and he needed no compass to find Jerusalem’s direction. He simply knelt and prayed, giving thanks to God “just as he had done before.”

This story challenges us to dare to be a Daniel. We might have refused “the royal food and wine,” but would we have faced the lion’s den? But we are forgetting the source of his courage - it came from the Lord. And we can encourage ourselves that it would come to us from the same source. We may not need grace to face lions today, but if we need it tomorrow we will receive it. If we are faithful in climbing the stair to the upstairs room today, we shall know where to find courage when the decree touches us tomorrow.