real life. real relationships. real purpose. in writing.
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Take some time today to journal and reflect on the following questions:
In what ways have you seen God at work within you this week? Within your family? Within others you may interact with?
In what ways have you resisted God’s work within you this week?
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Daniel 6:24 Then the king gave orders to arrest the men…[and have] them thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children.
We live in a world that regularly focuses on what is right and what is wrong. And when we see somebody do something wrong we look for justice to be done. Because this is our culture, we can be tempted to read the end of Daniel 6 and think to ourselves, Yeah. You guys got exactly what you deserved!
But commentary author David Helm writes in Daniel For You, “…these verses should not find us cheering for the destruction of those who oppose us. Rather, we are being warned against rejecting Daniel’s God, for there is no hope of preservation outside Him. Daniel’s God is the God of the living, he is the God who judges the sin of all people…”
In other words, we ought not cheer for the destruction of those who oppose us, because only God serves as the final judge. Instead, we can reflect on our own lives, carefully evaluating whether or not we are accepting or resisting the work God is doing within us.
READING & PRAYERS:
DANIEL 6:14-28, MATTHEW 7:1-5 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTIONS: Be honest: How regularly do you find yourself cheering for the destruction (or judgment) of those who oppose you? In what ways may you be accepting the work God is doing within you? In what ways may you be resisting the work God is doing within you?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: As you pray today, spend an equal amount of time listening to God as you spend talking to God. Perhaps listen even longer. Consider making this a part of your daily practices so you can discern God’s voice more clearly.
Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I would like to think that I’m not a judgmental person, but if I were to count the number of times I sigh, roll my eyes, or internally criticize others, I know the number would be quite high. Help me to focus on my own growth, and strip away my judgmental attitude. Amen.
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Daniel 6:14 Hearing this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think of a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament.
King Darius liked Daniel a great deal. Seemingly, he was most upset with himself about how this situation was unfolding. Yes, the king would have known he had been manipulated into signing this law that nobody could pray to any god but him. He would have been well aware that he had been tricked.
But we don’t see Darius initially get upset with those who tricked him. Instead, the king was most upset with himself. Despite the fact that others had manipulated him, he knew that he still had the final decision. He could have asked more questions in order to identify the motives of those who wrote this law. He could have been more discerning. Due to his own lack of wisdom and discernment, he had been tricked.
Now, the king is realizing the consequences of his lack of foresight. He likely came to understand this important principle: The decisions we make don’t only impact our own lives but the lives of countless others.
READING & PRAYERS:
DANIEL 6:14-28 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: The decisions we make don’t only impact our own lives but the lives of countless others. What can you do today to ensure that you have all the information needed in order to make wise and discerning decisions?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Write down a list of a few things that help you experience peace and contentment in life. Then consider creating a plan that leads to you saying “yes” to these things more regularly and “no” to others.
Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I’m grateful for today’s reminder that the decisions I make don’t only impact my own life but the lives of countless others. Help me to grow in wisdom and discernment so that the decisions I make are a blessing to others, and not a curse. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Daniel 6:10b He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
The beginning of Daniel 6 shows that Daniel is clearly in a bind. Being somebody with such a high position in the government, he would have been well aware that the other leaders had concocted this plan to set him up. Similarly, he would have been fully aware that if anybody broke this law the king had signed, the punishment would have been death. Death by lions.
So what does Daniel do? He keeps living the way he has always lived and doing the things he has always done – including spending time in prayer. What kind of prayers does he pray? We do not read that he prayed prayers of protection. Nor do we read that he prayed for God to destroy those who were manipulating the king. What kinds of prayers does he pray? He prays with praise and thanks to his God.
Seemingly, Daniel wasn’t concerned about what was to happen next. He simply wanted to enter into the presence of his heavenly father and offer ongoing praise and thanksgiving.
READING & PRAYERS:
DANIEL 6:1-13 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: What does your prayer life look like? What would it look like for you to regularly offer prayers of praise and thanksgiving?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Practice breath prayers throughout the day. Breathe in with the first part of the prayer, then exhale with the second. Some examples include: “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner.” “Speak Lord, I am listening.” “You are the potter, I am the clay.” “Peace. Be still.”
Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I am well aware that my prayer life could be so much better than it is. As I continue this week, help me to remove things that distract me from prayer, and utilize that extra time to be in Your loving presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Daniel 6:4b [Daniel] was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.
At this point in Daniel’s life, he had been in a leadership position in Babylon for over 60 years. He was removed from his home in Israel during his teenage years, taken into exile to the great city of Babylon, and had faithfully served numerous kings throughout his lifetime. Now an old man, Daniel is still living faithfully, showing that he was always responsible and completely trustworthy.
His faithfulness, integrity, and character frustrated the other leaders of the city, so they created a law with the goal of making him look bad. They were willing to lie and create bad policies in order to gain more power.
Like them, we are regularly tempted to bend the truth or manipulate a situation in order to make ourselves look better or to avoid somebody else’s disapproval. Whether it’s leaving info out of a monthly report or not telling our spouse about a recent purchase, we are regularly tempted to do things with the sole purpose of making ourselves look better.
READING & PRAYERS:
DANIEL 6:1-13 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: In what subtle or not so subtle ways do you bend the truth to make yourself look better or avoid somebody’s disapproval? In what ways do these kinds of actions go against God’s plan for your life?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: As you pray today, spend an equal amount of time listening to God as you spend talking to God. Perhaps listen even longer. Consider making this a part of your daily practices so you can discern God’s voice more clearly.
Take a Step: This week, consider utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily to begin practicing being with God and resting in His presence. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices. See pauseapp.com for details.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I know I may not even realize the full extent of how much I do or say to make myself look better or to avoid the disapproval of others. Continue to help me grow and live a life of pure honesty. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Take some time today to journal and reflect on the following questions:
In what ways have you seen God at work within you this week? Within your family? Within others you may interact with?
In what ways have you resisted God’s work within you this week?
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Acts 21:39 Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”
Perhaps there isn’t a better example of somebody being ready to share their story than the Apostle Paul. Here was a man who had cheered and approved the deaths of some early Christians (see Acts 8:1). He was a man who was utterly opposed to “The Way.” But after having a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, he was a changed man.
Yet Paul didn’t seem to be the kind of person who simply wanted to share his own story. Instead, he saw how his story was part of a larger, much grander one. He saw that his story was part of a much greater, collective story.
Throughout his life, he traveled from city to city, teaching the message of the Gospel and striving to help others see how their individual stories were part of something much, much bigger. That all people who were followers of Jesus were part of one, large, collective story.
You too, have a story that’s part of one much larger collective story. This means that you are not alone. Your story and life experiences are all part of a thread which ties all followers of Jesus together.
READING & PRAYERS:
ACTS 21:37-22:21 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: You are now part of the new family of Jesus. In what ways may God be inviting you to grow and acknowledge fellow Christians as true brothers and sisters in Christ?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: As you pray today, spend an equal amount of time listening to God as you spend talking to God. Perhaps listen even longer. Consider making this a part of your daily practices so you can discern God’s voice more clearly.
Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess that it’s sometimes difficult for me to think about being part of a family because my extended family has experienced many challenges through the years. Continue to reveal me the beauty You have created within family, as well as the wonderful truth that You see me as Your child and a key part of Your family. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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1 Chronicles 16:8 Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
In his book titled Connecting, Counselor Larry Crabb notes that one way we can connect with others is by “Claiming the special opportunities to reveal grace… .” He goes on to note that relationships (or perhaps, people themselves) heal when they reflect the energy of Christ. Some helpful steps may include:
Similarly, Jean Vanier writes, “To love someone is not first of all to do things for them, but to reveal to them their beauty and value, to say to them through our attitude: ‘You are beautiful. You are important. I trust you. You can trust yourself.’”
These quotes help emphasize a key principle when it comes to sharing your story: Sharing your story isn’t about you. It’s about what God has done within you. It’s about your absolute commitment to seeing yourself as God sees you. It’s about your desire to help others see themselves as God sees them.
READING & PRAYERS:
1 CHRONICLES 16:8-36 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: How may God be inviting you to be a loving presence in the lives of others today, with you expressing through your attitude, “You are beautiful. You are important. I trust you. You can trust yourself?”
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Practice breath prayers throughout the day. Breathe in with the first part of the prayer, then exhale with the second. Some examples include: “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner.” “Speak Lord, I am listening.” “You are the potter, I am the clay.” “Peace. Be still.”
Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I recognize that I need a regular reminder that You see me as beautiful, important and trustworthy. May I see others in this same light, helping them to see themselves as You see them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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John 20:27 “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Far too often, followers of Jesus consider their story and are ashamed to share aspects of it. The story includes some pretty deep wounds and being real about those wounds is difficult.
However, as followers of Jesus, we are invited to follow His lead. After Jesus’ life, His death, and His resurrection, Jesus still had scars. Not only did He have these scars, but He was willing to reveal them to others. Why did He reveal these scars to others? So they would no longer doubt who He was. And perhaps to help them see that the scars are a reminder of God’s healing presence.
For those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ, we too have scars. Not physical ones, but deeply spiritual and emotional scars. But we are not called to cover them up and pretend like they never existed. Nor are we to hide behind them and only allow our scars to be the only thing people see about us.
Instead, we are invited to include them as an essential part of our individual stories. They serve as a profound reminder that after our salvation, and even after experiencing God’s healing in our lives, the scars are still visible as a reminder of God’s healing presence.
READING & PRAYERS:
JOHN 20:24-29 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: Be honest: Do you hesitate to share some parts of your story because you don’t want to reveal some of the ‘scars’ you’ve experienced? How may sharing your story serve as a reminder – to you and others – of God’s healing presence in your life?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Write down a list of a few things that help you experience peace and contentment in life. Then consider creating a plan that leads to you saying “yes” to these things more regularly and “no” to others.
Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess I sometimes hide my scars because I’m ashamed of decisions I’ve made. Today I pray that You will heal this shame as well and give me more confidence to share about Your healing presence in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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1 Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
Being prepared to provide an answer for the hope that you have within you at any given moment is a challenge. It requires you to dig deep, to look within yourself to fully understand who God is, who you are, and the purpose He has for your life.
Some may say, “I’d love to always be prepared to provide an answer for the hope that I have. But I don’t feel like God has provided me with what I need to do that. To be honest, I’m not sure He has given me any specific purpose to fulfill.”
If that’s you, be encouraged that you’re not the only one! But also be encouraged that the Scriptures confirm that as a follower of Jesus, God has provided you with your own story. And one of the purposes of your story is to lift up and encourage others – both Christians and non-Christians alike.
Maybe the purpose God is inviting you to fulfill is to find simple ways to get started in the process. For example, maybe you can begin each day by praying, “God, today I ask for Your help in seeing how my story is part of Your grand story. How my story ties in with the Good News of Jesus.”
READING & PRAYERS:
1 PETER 3:13-17 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: On a scale of 1-10, how well do you know your story and how well it ties in with God’s grand story? When was the last time you shared your story and the reasons for the hope you have?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: As you pray today, spend an equal amount of time listening to God as you spend talking to God. Perhaps listen even longer. Consider making this a part of your daily practices so you can discern God’s voice more clearly.
Take a Step: This week, consider utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily to begin practicing being with God and resting in His presence. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices. See pauseapp.com for details.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, it’s easy for me to spend all of my time with people who are like me and those who already follow You. Thank You for the reminder that You have invited me to share the beauty of Your story with others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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