The decree in today’s verse gave the people of Babylon a choice. For thirty days, they had to pray only to King Darius or face death by hungry lions! Would you strategize that for thirty days you could publicly pray to King Darius and privately pray to God to avoid the lions? Daniel knew the First Commandment told him to have no other gods before God (Exo. 20: 3). Do you know God intimately enough to trust Him in any situation? Daniel did, so his faith in God did not waiver! He chose “just as he had always done” to pray to God and face death in a hungry lion’s den.

‍

What do you ALWAYS do? I asked AI this same question and got this answer, “People everywhere always breathe, sleep, eat, and communicate to survive and connect.” Another AI answer said, “The most common things people do every day include meeting basic biological needs, routine maintenance, working, and engaging with digital media.”  Ouch! I do NOT want to be known as a person who always breathes, eats, showers, works, and interacts with a screen. Do you?

‍

Does your life reflect that you know God or your screen better? Can you summarize a verse and navigate a physical Bible to share it with someone as quickly as you can share a life update on social media? Do you love others more than screens? Do you connect with God in prayer like you do with others on screens?

‍

It bites like a lion into my heart to think that most believers know their screens better! Daniel deeply knew God, trusted Him because he spent time with Him, and was thrown into a den with hungry lions; however, his God sent angels that shut the mouths of the lions and delivered Daniel from death! Soon afterward, King Darius issued a new decree that honored Daniel’s God! You can read about the details of these miracles and God’s faithfulness to Daniel in Daniel 6.  

Daniel reflects the power of a consistent rhythm of time spent with God. Daniel’s faith was not a performance, but it was a consistent, intimate, unwavering practice. Daniel’s actions were not loud and bold, but quiet and steadfast. When you spend time with God, you will develop a relationship rhythm that will change your life! You will find yourself more focused and fulfilled. You will face your day with courage, strength, wisdom, patience, and the peace from this rhythm. Always having these in life is much more inviting than AI’s answers!

‍

We know there are many cultural norms that discourage a rhythm of time with God. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Matt. 11:28-30 MSG). For me, this is one of the most calming passages in the Bible. Do you want to learn this “unforced rhythm of grace”? Then spend time with God!

‍

Don’t let the external pressure of today’s culture direct your rhythm and don’t let the temptation of screens compromise your time with God. Let your time with God be a rhythm that is not optional. When you spend time with Him you will develop an unforced rhythm of living in grace and working from a place of spiritual rest rather than exhaustion, anxiety, and the forced self-effort of today’s culture.  

‍

We can maintain personal integrity and faith in an opposing culture.

‍

We can live a legacy of an unwavering, faithful rhythm of love and devotion to God.

‍

We can encourage others to seek this unforced rhythm of grace to restore real life.

‍

Father God, thank you for Your deep desire to know us. We ask that You strengthen our desire to know You. May our relationship with You be a regular rhythm of practice that keeps us strong when pressure from culture increases, so we may choose to do what we always do – pray – even when tested. May we embrace time with You to absorb the steadfast, unwavering rhythm of Your grace and echo Your grace to the world. We love you!