Daniel … went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

— Daniel 6:10

So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”

— Luke 21:36

3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.

4 In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

— Psalm 56:3-4

3 You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.

4 Trust in the LORD forever, because GOD the LORD is the Rock eternal.

— Isaiah 26:3-4

19 that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.

— 2 Corinthians 5:19-20

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

Because of his ancestors’ rebellion, Daniel found himself in a situation beyond his control. However, Daniel chose to respond faithfully. Rather than bemoaned his circumstances, Daniel trained his focus on God. Though he likely experienced difficult days, Daniel exhibited exemplary and consistent trust in God. As a righteous servant of God, he fixed his visions on God. Daniel suffered because of the sins of others, served both captors and captives, empathized with others’ troubles, exercised his supernatural gifts for God’s glory, and was a man of prayer.

Daniel’s life did not seem fair. Babylon was not his home. Daniel served the Babylonians yet lived differently from the culture around him. God’s people today also live as exiles in a foreign territory. The full reality of our kingdom is yet to come. Until Jesus returns, believers serve as ambassadors to the One whose life, death, resurrection, and ascension give eternal life to those who believe in Him. We are called to do good works and stand firm in our faith while living in a world that has rejected Him. Indwelt with the Holy Spirit, those who abide in Jesus bear lasting fruit, allowing others to taste and see that the Lord is good.