CUFI’s Word of The Week – When Praise is Your Pattern, Peace is Your Present

CUFI’s Word of The Week – When Praise is Your Pattern, Peace is Your Present

Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.

— Daniel 6:10

Most of us likely picture the prophet Daniel sitting in a lions’ den, surrounded by lions whose mouths were shut by the almighty God. But what Daniel did before being thrown into the lion’s den is perhaps just as striking.

When an order went out that all under Nebuchadnezzar’s rule must worship only the god Nebo (and, by extension, Nebo’s representative, King Nebuchadnezzar), Daniel’s habits did not change. His faith did not waver. He “continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously” (Daniel 6:10b).

While we all agree it’s important to pray while you are in a pit, Daniel persisted in praising God before he was thrown into the lions’ den. Imagine hearing a warrant for your arrest and death go out and giving thanks in response! But this is what Daniel did. Praise was his pattern, so peace was his present, the wonderful product of his thanksgiving.

This week, consider what it truly means to “give thanks in everything” and practice doing so (1 Thessalonians 5:18).