Just as He Had Done Before
November 11, 2022
Daniel 6:10 "Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”
Chapter 6 in the book of Daniel is one of the best known stories of the Bible - Daniel and the Lion's Den. We all know how Daniel trusted God to take care of him - his witness to the power of God affected all around him. But I think this verse brings to light something that can be applied to us centuries later.
Just picture it. Daniel finds out that a decree had been signed stating that anyone who prays to God, anyone who worships anyone besides the king, will be killed. Does he sit back and say, How can I still pray and have no one find out, can I find a loophole? Nope, Daniel didn't change his practice at all. In fact, the beginning of the verse says that WHEN the decree was signed, he went and prayed. He could have closed the windows, pulled the drapes or prayed in another room - that wouldn't have been wrong. But "he had ALWAYS praised God this way" [in the upper room, windows open, facing Jerusalem]. His enemies knew this and guess who was waiting outside his house? I can just picture them rubbing their hands together with glee and racing to tell on Daniel.
Is prayer that important to you? If deep in your heart you honestly answer, well, prayer is more of a routine for me, it’s something I do when I think about it, but it’s not more important than my life. Then confess that to God and ask Him to teach you the importance of prayer. I know I’m not experiencing prayer the way I should. I need to be setting more time aside for prayer, like it’s more important than anything else on my schedule.
I pray that I will be more like Daniel. I pray that God give me the strength to be like Daniel when he decided to go straight up to his house, open the windows and pray for all to see him. Not to brag, and not for show, but because he wanted to continue to honor and pray to God, just as he always had.
Praying is a privilege that we have. We don’t have to ask for permission to pray. We can do it whenever we want, and we will not be punished for it, we won’t be sent to a lion’s den! If you ask God to help you make prayer a top priority, God will be pleased with that prayer and He will help you. Then set aside the time for Him to answer that prayer. I can’t wait to see what He does!