“But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help” (Daniel 6:10-11, NLT).

I think we tend to balk at religious ritual, and maybe to our detriment at times. While I don’t think we are under any law to pray three times a day facing Jerusalem, I really like this picture of the faithfulness to turn to God three times a day, to thank God and to ask for help. During the day, I’m more likely to throw out “Thanks Lord” or “We need this” prayers, than to stop and actually turn to Him. Think of the facing Jerusalem as looking at the Lord. When I’m tossing out “arrow prayers” like that, I’m more likely looking at the problem, the thing right in front of me, than at the Lord.

I like the discipline of stopping and actually turning to Him—body, mind, soul, spirit—and taking a minute. And it can be just a minute, to actually connect with Him and say thanks, and ask for help expecting to receive it, not just throwing off a prayer and continuing on with my day as if I wasn’t expecting an answer. Kneeling is a good way to remove yourself from the ordinary around you and take a pause to turn yourself to God. Stop. Thank. Ask. Praise.

While my goal is to remain in the Lord’s presence at all times acknowledging Him with me all day long, there is still very much a need for that stopping—not just letting Jesus tag along with you during the day, but be the One you turn to with your questions, with your thanks, with your excitement. Stop and pause. Turn your whole self to Him, and be with the Lord. Let Him refresh you throughout your day, not just fill up your tank to get the day started.

Stop and be still, and know that He is God. We need that, maybe even more, in the middle of day than in the quiet calm of morning.