Heavenly Father, I’m so drawn to the heart which beat in Daniel’s breast—a heart filled with praise for you, not paranoia about his life. His love for you was magnetic, even contagious.

He just learned about the decree that anybody praying to any other god or man but King Darius would become lions’ lunch. So what did he do? The same thing he’d been doing for decades in Babylon. The windows were open. His knees were bent. His gaze was set, and even before he asked you for help, he offered you thanks. He was neither paranoid nor presumptuous, but he was most definitely at peace.

What freedom and intimacy this your aging son and servant enjoyed with you. But why am I surprised? Haven’t you promised, “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.” (Psalm 92:12-14).

You never demanded Daniel to get on his knees three times a day. You didn’t have to, for it was his delight. No government decree could keep your son from seeking your face and enjoying your grace, for he was much more committed to your eternal glory than to his personal survival.

Father, may the same peace and freedom that defined Daniel’s life shape ours as well, no matter what Satan throws at us. For even as “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour,” (1 Peter 5:8), he’s a defeated foe. We live in the victorious day Daniel anticipated from afar. Indeed, Jesus, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed” (Revelation 5:5). Jesus is the main Lion with whom we want to be thoroughly preoccupied.

As we get older, gracious Father, please keep us fresh and fruitful through the gospel. Deeper our intimacy with you. May your grace always be amazing to us. Continue to pour your transforming love into our hearts, and use us however you choose the rest of our days in this world. So very Amen, we pray, in Jesus’ magnificent and merciful name.


Scotty Smith
Pastor for Preaching
Christ Community Church
1215 Hillsboro Rd.
Franklin, TN 37069
615-468-2230

It’s good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace Hebrews 13:9

I challenge you to try this: What do you have to lose? 5 minutes X 21 days = 1 hour & 45 minutes.

Can you spare 1 hour and 45 minutes to greatly improve your life?

A few basic principles:

1. Begin with the New Testament -- the last third of the Bible.
2. Read it like a love letter or like a novel; in a devotional way -- Not like a text book; in an intellectual way.
3. Use a modern translation. I like the New International Version and the New King James Version. You pick a version that is easy for you to read.
4. Read it daily -- at least 5 minutes every single day.
5. If you don't understand something, just keep on reading. Don't get stuck trying to figure it out. (I've been reading the Bible 36 years and still don't understand many things about it.)
6. Act on and put into practice the things that you do understand.
7. Stick with it every day for 21 days before you evaluate your results.

So how about you? Will you take my challenge? Will you invest 1 hour and 45 minutes in an experiment that may revolutionize your life?

The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem is on the FIRST SUNDAY OF EVERY OCTOBER.
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