When Daniel knew that

the document had been signed,

he went to his house

   where he had windows

   in his upper chamber

   open toward Jerusalem.

He got down on his knees

  three times a day

and prayed

and gave thanks before His God,

   as he had done previously.

                   Daniel 6. 10

(Not out of defiance

           but faithfulness,

not just a habit

  but the course of his life,

not out of fear

         but his strength.

It was not just what we do,

  but what it does to us,

not impervious to circumstances,

   but responsive to God.

Trusting God

   is not just a reaction to crisis,

but a way of life.

Trusting God always leads

to a far different outcome

and impacts generations

                 yet unborn.)

O LORD,

Thank You for Daniel's story

     of faithfulness

   that impacts our very lives

thousands of years later.

Help us to be

     not fearful of circumstances

     but faithful to You

    even in the every days,

that we would already know

   You walk with us

            in the crisis.

You who saved Daniel

      out of the den of lions,

You are the same God

     who loves us too

     and abides in us.

Help us to know

what trusting You looks like

  in this situation,

in these relationships,

in how we work,

in what we do,

and in how

   we practice grace and love.

May our love for You

     distinguish us.

You are the God who is near,

   and nothing but nothing

   changes that.