“The Lord is a wonderful workman; he bringeth about his propose that he can draw light out of darkness …. My enemies, the worst that they can do the Lord has turned into the best.” Robert Bruce 16 th century Scottish pastor

“The Lord is a wonderful workman; he bringeth about his propose that he can draw light out of darkness …. My enemies, the worst that they can do the Lord has turned into the best.” Robert Bruce In the moments of our greatest struggle, God is often doing his deepest work 16 th century Scottish pastor

Courageous faith, bold witness and incredible blessing are possible even when the world around us doesn’t share our beliefs, values or convictions

In the Book of Daniel there is a call to recognize that God is sovereign and in control and there is an invitation to trust and obey him despite the opposition

The God who is sovereign, powerful and able to bring about his purposes for the world and for history is the God we can trust to bring about his purposes in our lives day to day

Because God is here today – I can entrust tomorrow to Him Because God holds tomorrow – I can trust Him today

“Hoping is not dreaming. It is not spinning an illusion or fantasy to protect us from our boredom or our pain. It means a confident, alert expectation that God will do what he said he will do. It is imagination put in the harness of faith. It is a willingness to let God do it his way and in his time.” Eugene Peterson

1. Develop character “character displays integrity” Habits of Hope Daniel 6

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. Habits of Hope Daniel 6

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is near-sighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.” 1 Peter 2:5-9 Habits of Hope Daniel 6

2. Establish the pattern of prayer “prayer enables faithfulness” Habits of Hope Daniel 6

Benefits of praying daily: Benefits of praying daily: enhances your relationship with God increases your awareness of God attunes you to his voice and work keeps your selfishness in check grants you forgiveness and spiritual strength reduces stress and improves your attitude offers hope and enables you to be faithful Habits of Hope Daniel 6

3. learn to trust “trust fuels courage” Habits of Hope Daniel 6

1.develop character “character displays integrity” 2.establish the habit of prayer “prayer enables faithfulness” 3. learn to trust “trust fuels courage” Habits of Hope Daniel 6

“The power of God is not displayed ultimately in his ability to rescue and deliver; rather, the power of God is displayed in his ability to take evil and transform it for good and for his own purposes. Habits of Hope Daniel 6

We believe this because our God is the one who raised the crucified Jesus from the dead, transforming the unimaginable evil of the crucifixion into the inconceivable glory of the resurrection.” Sean Lucas Habits of Hope Daniel 6