Read: Daniel 6:1-13
He . . . prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. (v. 10)
Daniel must have wondered when he might catch a break. Taken captive as a young man, his adult life was spent in the service of pagan emperors. He repeatedly faced tests of his faith, his life on the line every time. Finally, Daniel’s faithfulness was recognized. He was given the second-highest office in the land. Time for a rest?
Quite the opposite. The promotion put a target on Daniel’s back. His subordinates knew his integrity was unassailable, so they used it against him. They convinced King Darius to make it a capital crime to pray to any entity but himself. They knew this was one law Daniel couldn’t honor. How did Daniel respond? He “prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously” (v. 10).
We sometimes treat spiritual practices, such as Bible study and prayer, as optional. We think, “I’ll get to that when I have time,” or “My faith is strong enough—I don’t need any extra help.” We may even treat these disciplines like a distasteful duty or a temporary way to cope with a passing problem. Daniel modeled the opposite. When Daniel faced a deadly threat, he didn’t complain. He didn’t plead for divine intervention. He gave thanks.
Faith practices attune us to God’s faithfulness. The spiritual practices we embrace during ordinary times train us for, and sustain us in, extraordinary times.
As you pray, give thanks to God for his faithfulness at all times.
Ben Van Arragon is an ordained minister in the Christian Reformed Church in North America. After twenty years of congregational ministry, he now serves his denomination as a pastor wellbeing consultant in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
