(Day 4 of the Fast)

Daniel chapter 3 is famous. Well known. Songs have been written about it. Most of us have heard this story many times.

But today, on this fourth day of my fast, a couple things are sitting with me a little more deeply and with more clarity.

First — something from yesterday.

I lifted up a situation to the Lord that I had been worrying anxiously over. I finally surrendered it instead of mentally trying to solve it from every angle.

Within three hours, God settled it.

This has actually happened once before recently — where He responded so quickly. Mine and God’s timelines don’t always line up… His is always right, of course. I’m just impatient.

As I was praising Him for His goodness, I also found myself lamenting all the unnecessary worrying I had done beforehand.

Why do I do that?

If I’m honest, sometimes it’s almost like I don’t want to bother God. He has so much going on already — surely He doesn’t need me bringing every little thing to Him. So I try to figure it out myself first… and then when I can’t, I ask.

There is some reverence in that posture because I respect God so deeply. I hate the thought of troubling Him with things that aren’t life and death.

But it’s still wrong.

Because He literally tells us not to do that.

Yesterday I was gently encouraged by someone who said so calmly,

“Yeah… He wants us to bring it all to Him. Whatever it is.”

That stuck with me.

What I also noticed yesterday — and wrote about — was Daniel’s reflex in chapter 2. When fear hit, his first response was prayer.

Not panic.

Not problem-solving.

Prayer.

Kind of like that question — when you get scared, do you freeze or fight?

Daniel turned to God immediately.

I’d love to tell you that’s always my reflex… but it isn’t. Too often I try to handle things before I invite God into them.

So — new goal unlocked:

Let prayer be my first reflex, not my last resort.

Then today I moved into chapter 3.

When Daniel’s friends were told they must worship the golden statue or be thrown into the fire, they made something incredibly clear:

They believed God could deliver them.

I’m doing pretty well there — I absolutely believe in God’s power.

But they didn’t stop with God can.

They followed it with,

“But even if He doesn’t…”

Even if He doesn’t deliver us…

Even if it costs us our lives…

We will still obey Him.

That kind of obedience is what I’m relating to right now.

Now let me be clear — this fast is not a fiery furnace. Not even close.

But it is revealing something about obedience in my own heart.

Because if I’m continuing in honesty…

I still don’t like this fast.

McDonald’s texted me about chicken nuggets today and my mouth watered.

The grown kids — who are not participating — cooked steak yesterday, and walking through that kitchen was a true test of restraint.

And yesterday I also sat at a Mexican restaurant with my mother and did not eat chips and queso.

As a Texan… that is COMMITMENT.

I still don’t fully see the absolute necessity of a fast. I don’t completely understand it.

But practicing obedience and submission — when it’s not unbiblical — is good practice for the heart.

It reminds me that I am not actually in charge.

It loosens my grip on comfort.

It teaches me what it looks like to live surrendered.

So even though I don’t fully understand…

I’m choosing obedience anyway.

Because sometimes the shaping happens in the obedience — not before it.

And maybe living surrendered means trusting God enough to follow… even when I’m still asking questions along the way.

These are the words that are echoing in my heart today.

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

18 “But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

 (Daniel 3:17–19, NASB95)