THURSDAY

Daniel 6:7–12

- Where does God want you to stand up for Him? How can you gain the courage to do this, even if it feels as if you’re alone?

One thing I love to ask people about is their hot takes. I love hearing unpopular opinions, weird observations, and perspectives that go against the status quo. Upon consulting the internet, I found a few hot takes I thought were interesting:

- Plain salted potato chips are better than all the flavored chips.

- Pizza should be eaten with a fork and a knife.

- Christmas music was meant to be played in the summertime.

- Harry Styles is not as great as everyone thinks he is.

- Selfies are the only photos you should take while on vacation.

- The Grand Canyon isn’t as “grand” as everyone thinks it is.

What do you think? Agree or disagree?

When I ask for my students’ hot takes, it’s fascinating to watch them come to life. And the reason I love initiating this conversation is because I think it’s valuable to be in the practice of going against the flow for something you believe in. Being in the minority isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, the Bible is bursting with stories of people who chose to worship God, and because they were in the minority, it often cost them quite a lot!

As you review the story of Daniel this week, think about how he chose to stand up for God, and how you can mirror his spirit in your life this week.