A life of taking ground in our faith is not a life of adversity, rather it is the of having gone through adversity with our eyes fixed on God.

[Daniel 1:5, 8-9 NET] So the king assigned them a daily ration from his royal delicacies and from the wine he himself drank. They were to be trained for the next three years. At the end of that time they were to enter the king’s service. [8] But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the royal delicacies or the royal wine. He therefore asked the overseer of the court officials for permission not to defile himself. [9] Then God made the overseer of the court officials sympathetic to Daniel.

God can do the ______________ when your aim is to please him.

[Daniel 2:14-18 NET] Then Daniel spoke with prudent counsel to Arioch, who was in charge of the king’s executioners and who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon. [15] He inquired of Arioch the king’s deputy, “Why is the decree from the king so urgent?” Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter. [16] So Daniel went in and requested the king to grant him time, that he might disclose the interpretation to the king. [17] Then Daniel went to his home and informed his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the matter. [18] He asked them to pray for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery so that he and his friends would not be destroyed along with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

[Proverbs 2:6 ESV] For the Lord gives wisdom, from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

We gain ground by God for wisdom.

[Daniel 3:16-18 NET] …“We do not need to give you a reply concerning this. [17] If our God whom we are serving exists, he is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue us, O king, from your power as well. [18] But if he does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don’t serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.”

[Daniel 6:10-11 NET] When Daniel realized that a written decree had been issued, he entered his home, where the windows in his upper room opened toward Jerusalem. Three times daily he was kneeling and offering prayers and thanks to his God just as he had been accustomed to do previously. [11] Then those officials who had gone to the king came by collusion and found Daniel praying and asking for help before his God.

Through Daniel’s life he cultivated a _________ of prayer and ____________ .

[1 Thessalonians 5 NIV] Rejoice always, [17] pray continually, [18] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

[Proverbs 4:20-27 NIV]
My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
[21] Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
[22] for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.

[23] Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
[24] Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

[25] Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
[26] Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
[27] Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.

[Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV] Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us (let’s gain ground!),[2] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

The daily habits that we ___________ determine the ___________ of our life.