8 years after Daniel was taken captive to Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar returned with his army to Jerusalem and burned it to the ground. (Imagine living as a captive, away from all your friends and family, away from the place you love, and one day hearing that all of it had been completely destroyed.) Daniel could have given into discouragement and quit, but he didn’t. Instead, he chose to fight for the people and place he loved. He fought for them in prayer. With all his heart he prayed for God to forgive and save his people.

When everything is going well for us, it is easy to forget about those who are suffering. When things are going bad or life gets tough, it is easy to have self-pity and think only about ourselves.

Whether things are going well, or they are going bad, those who shine like the stars care not only for their own lives but for the lives of others.

A person who shines like the stars in heaven prays fervently as Daniel did and asks God to forgive his or her friends, family, and nation who are far away from God.

First, write down a list of 10 people you know who do not know Jesus (friends, family, neighbors, classmates, teachers, coaches, etc.). Then take 10 minutes to pray for them like Daniel prayed for his people. Pray for God to have mercy on them and for the Holy Spirit to reveal Christ to them. Next, start praying for your list of 10 every day.

Where do we go from here?

Now that you have started well, finish strong! Use the momentum you have created these last five days to create a life-long discipline of reading the Word of God and praying! Shine like the stars in heaven! Shine brighter and brighter for Jesus every day!