I always love to hear the story of Daniel in the lion’s den…there’s something about it and the drama of it all that just seems to boldly display the power of God. I mean, He actually shut the mouths of the lions…how incredible is that?!
But I love the way Pastor Jason pointed out a few things I had never really thought of in this story. One of them being this: Daniel never stopped being Daniel, even when the law changed.
The law that condemned his daily practice of prayer. The law that would now throw him into the lion’s den. A trap conceived to manipulate the king and take Daniel’s life.
It says in Daniel 6:10, “But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.” (NLT)
“Just as he had always done”…those words are sticking with me.
As the world around us gets a little darker and more divided each and every day, I would like to be characterized as someone who does “just as I’ve always done…”
I want to pray the same way, speak with the same boldness about Christ, and to continue to walk the walk.
Pastor Jason posed an interesting question on Sunday: What would it take for you to shake your faith?
I’ve often thought about what it would take for me, if we in America were to one day face the same kind of persecution many others face all over the world.
To be honest with you, I feel like I would be a coward. I don’t know if I would be brave enough to stand up for my faith if it was a matter of life and death. The flesh part of me feels so weak at times…especially when it comes to people-pleasing and keeping the peace.
I find a lot of comfort in this verse when I think about those end-times and the persecution we might face:
“And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:11-12, ESV)
It’s comforting to know that in that very moment, He will give us the words. He will give us the bravery to stand up for our faith. He will empower us by His Spirit.
The truth is, we don’t know if we will have to face that kind of persecution in our lifetime…but we do know one thing: He will supply exactly what we need to face it.
Let’s stay consistent in our prayer life like Daniel…doing things like we’ve always done.
Let’s remember that the quiet faithfulness of putting one foot in front of the other each and every day is beautiful in the eyes of God. Let’s not grow weary of doing good.
Because in the end, our reward is our Savior. And what could be more precious to look forward to than that?
But I love the way Pastor Jason pointed out a few things I had never really thought of in this story. One of them being this: Daniel never stopped being Daniel, even when the law changed.
The law that condemned his daily practice of prayer. The law that would now throw him into the lion’s den. A trap conceived to manipulate the king and take Daniel’s life.
It says in Daniel 6:10, “But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.” (NLT)
“Just as he had always done”…those words are sticking with me.
As the world around us gets a little darker and more divided each and every day, I would like to be characterized as someone who does “just as I’ve always done…”
I want to pray the same way, speak with the same boldness about Christ, and to continue to walk the walk.
Pastor Jason posed an interesting question on Sunday: What would it take for you to shake your faith?
I’ve often thought about what it would take for me, if we in America were to one day face the same kind of persecution many others face all over the world.
To be honest with you, I feel like I would be a coward. I don’t know if I would be brave enough to stand up for my faith if it was a matter of life and death. The flesh part of me feels so weak at times…especially when it comes to people-pleasing and keeping the peace.
I find a lot of comfort in this verse when I think about those end-times and the persecution we might face:
“And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:11-12, ESV)
It’s comforting to know that in that very moment, He will give us the words. He will give us the bravery to stand up for our faith. He will empower us by His Spirit.
The truth is, we don’t know if we will have to face that kind of persecution in our lifetime…but we do know one thing: He will supply exactly what we need to face it.
Let’s stay consistent in our prayer life like Daniel…doing things like we’ve always done.
Let’s remember that the quiet faithfulness of putting one foot in front of the other each and every day is beautiful in the eyes of God. Let’s not grow weary of doing good.
Because in the end, our reward is our Savior. And what could be more precious to look forward to than that?
Erika Pizzo
Erika is an author of various books on the topics of faith, mental health, and victory in Christ. Erika lives with her husband, daughter, son, and their fluffy poodle in sunny Southern California. Her two favorite things are a visit to the beach and a chai latte in hand.