50 Days to More

A Seven Week Campaign to Begin 2018

Week 6: Creating Success in Your Daily Routine

Day Thirty-Eight (2/13/18): Uncommon Spiritual Leaders
Recommended Reading: Daniel 6

Developing a daily success routine is important physically, mentally, and also spiritually. Today we are talking about the next important key to developing a daily success routine. Uncommon spiritual leaders pray at the same time very day.

In our reading today, we read a familiar story about Daniel and the Lion’s Den. Daniel prayed 3 times every day (morning, noon, night) even when he was threatened by the king’s court not to do it. He knew the punishment that awaited him, the lion’s den, but still he was committed to his prayer life in obedience to God.

“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 (ESV)

The amazing thing about the details we can find in this verse is that Daniel prayed in the open. He could have easily closed his windows or hid when it came time to pray. Then he still might have thought how courageous he was because he was still praying despite the threats. But Daniel knew he had to stand firm and not even slightly waiver from his routine. As he prayed openly he knew the consequences that awaited him. But nothing could have stopped him from his daily appointments in the secret place with God.

Daniel’s attitude of positivity and faith is astounding. When he was about to face the possibility and likelihood of death, he wasn’t nervous, scared, anxious, or even angry with the king or officials. He saw the lion’s den as an opportunity to exercise his faith in God and an angel came to protect him! He took the trial as an opportunity to exercise his faith! When he came out of the den, the first thing he said to the king is that he was blameless before him. He was not rude or condescending or bitter at him for throwing him in there in the first place.

Daniel then continued to prosper during the reign of King Darius because of his spirit of excellence and his faith. And also because of his solidified commitment to both the king and God.

Many other great spiritual leaders also had daily routines in their prayer lives. David arose every morning and sought the Lord. Jesus often went away from the company of the disciples to pray and seek God. Moses went away on the mountaintop to seek the presence of the Lord, and many, many more.

If you establish a consistent appointment in the secret place with God’s presence, it will radically change your life! Even if you only commit to 5 minutes each day, those 5 minutes will become the most important and valuable moments of your entire day. You do not necessarily have to meet with God only in the morning; it can be on a lunch break, in the evening, whatever and whenever. But often times, starting your morning off with God will set the attitude and the tone for the rest of the day to follow. Spending time in His presence and reading His word will stimulate your faith and put the right mind-set in your thoughts.

Have you spent time in prayer with God today? Not just reading His word or this devotion, but set aside time to spend in His presence. He is waiting for you to join Him!

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,” Psalm 92:1-2 (ESV)

Compiled by Christine Thompson & Meredith Hobbs
Taken from the Sermon Series “7 Steps to One Thousand Times More”
By Pastor Timothy Coats
Family First Church - Spring Hill, Florida