"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

The Arena

Which of these two words better describes you, spectator or competitor? How about these two, critic or doer? We live in a culture where it is all too easy to stay on the safety of the sidelines and to criticize those who lay it on the line, take risks, and enter the arena. Especially when those in the arena struggle or fail. It is easy to mock them, shame them, or put them down. However, it is not so easy to get into the arena ourselves! There is a great quote from President Theodore Roosevelt about this: "It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who's actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion and spends himself in a worthy cause; who best knows at the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." Powerful words....what do they say about you?

One hero of the Bible who dared greatly was Daniel. His life and the lives of 10,000 other Hebrews had been greatly altered by the Chaldean invasion and conquering of Israel. They were led away in chains to the city of Babylon where Daniel ended up working in the palace of the Chaldean king, Nebuchnezzar. Jealous of the success that Daniel experienced there many priests and court officials plotted against him to bring about his downfall and through their work created a decree (law) that said only Nebuchnezzar could be revered as a god and prayed to. The penalty for breaking the law? Death! What did Daniel do when he heard about the new decree? "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) What would you have done? The priests were all to happy to turn Daniel in and to see his punishment carried out... "So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, 'May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!' " (Daniel 6: 16) We know that because of Daniel's great faith, God does in fact save him and deliver him from the mouths of the lions.

Daniel was willing to pay the price for his faith, to get into the arena and face the challenge. Are you? Remember that you are never alone! God is with you! "The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident." (Psalm 27: 1-3) Spectator or competitor? Critic or doer? Which are you? Place your faith in the Lord, get off the sidelines, be an encourager, set the example and get into the arena! Amen!

Take a moment and encourage someone this week.

I pray that all is well with you. Please let me know if you have any prayer concerns or praises. Have a great week and remember to smile :), the Lord loves you!

In Christ,

Shan D. Hartsough

"So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, 'May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!' "
-Daniel 6: 16

Back