I’m pretty wary of “formulas” for the successful Christian life. I just don’t think it’s as a simple as “do A . . . then add B . . . avoid C . . . and D will happen.” On the other hand, there’s no denying that there’s a right way to pursue the things of Christ and a not so right way . . . that there are principles to embrace and promises to claim and applications to apply and practices to practice that, when you do, will maximize the Christian experience . . . or, to coin a Jesus phrase, will allow us to experience life “to the full” (John 10:10 NIV). As I wrapped up my readings in Daniel this morning I came across such a combo of principles . . . a one-two punch that is sure to maximize our ability, through His provision, to enter into the wonders of the mind of Christ.

“Then [the angel] said to me, ‘Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.’ ” (Daniel 10:12)

Daniel, a man probably in his 80’s at this time, had not stopped seeking the God of heaven. Though he had lived pretty much all his adult life in a pagan culture, yet He continued to turn heavenward to make sense of the events around him . . . to seek the God He had faithfully lived for. Here, he has been mourning over Jerusalem . . . laid waste almost 70 years earlier . . . for three full weeks (10:2). During that time he fasts and prays . . . God having been stirring in him a longing for home . . . Daniel responding to that prompting of God with an all out pursuit of the mind of God.

And at the essence of that pursuit? He set his heart to understand and he humbled himself before God. I’m thinking that’s a pretty powerful one-two combo. A heart earnestly desiring the things of God and the throne of self emptied, inviting the King to reign.

It’s far too easy for me to bring my understanding to the Word . . . to seek to gather additional data to enforce my biases, rather than open His word afresh each morning with a heart seeking to receive and a spirit subject to the One who has promised to teach me and lead me into truth. It’s way too easy for me, having gained a bit of knowledge, to then think that I now something and that others should know what I know . . . for “knowledge puffs up” when not tempered with love (1Cor. 8:1). It comes too naturally for me to step out on my own strength and try and swing about “the Sword” rather than humbly, relying upon the Holy Spirit, carefully and skillfully apply the Sword in the power of His might.

Oh, to be like Daniel (not the first time I’ve felt this way during these past mornings of reading his book) . . . to set my heart to know the mind of God . . . to humble myself, that He might have latitude to reveal His mind.

And what happens when Daniel prepares Himself? Angels doing some one-on-one tutoring . . . the mind of God being revealed to mortal man . . . the promises of God being conveyed to a faithful seeker of truth. Sound familiar? Angels in front of me? Not so much. The Spirit of God inside of me? You better believe it. The mind of Christ being revealed to me through His revelation of the Scriptures? Yeah . . . by His grace. The things of heaven being made known to a guy trying to do life on this earth? Uh, huh! And my part? My part is to be like Daniel . . .

Heart and humility . . . my part. The Word and the Teacher . . . His part. The wonder and the awe . . . the best part! Amen?