“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” — Daniel 6:10
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Athletes have all kinds of routines, from pregame rituals to how they shoot a free throw or step into the batter’s box. Sports are full of actions that are repeated over and over, such as throwing a football, swinging a bat or club, and shooting a basketball.
The goal is to create a swing or shot that is easy to replicate so the motion becomes automatic in the defining moments of a game. That doesn’t happen without hours and hours of practice, day after day after day.
When Daniel in the Bible learned about the decree issued by King Darius that was designed to get Daniel in trouble for praying to God, he went home and prayed, “just as he had done before” (Daniel 6:10). He knew he was the primary target for the decree, and he knew he was putting his life in danger by disobeying it, but Daniel was not going to let anything keep him from communing with God. He ended up in a den of lions because of it.
While most people won’t have an experience like Daniel’s, everyone is going to face circumstances that test their faith. The courage Daniel and others find in those moments doesn’t suddenly appear; it comes from the behaviors they’ve repeated in their daily lives.
Trusting God is not a one-time deal. It’s a choice we as Christians need to make consistently so that when our faith is tested, we have a routine to fall back on. Being ready for the big moments requires preparation, in sports and even more in our walk with Christ.
— Joshua Doering
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