PRAY EVERY DAY - Day 11: Pastor Kjell Axel Johanson
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“Even though Daniel knew that the new law had been written, he went to pray in an upstairs room in his house, which had windows that opened toward Jerusalem. Three times each day Daniel would kneel down to pray and thank God, just as he always had done.”
Daniel 6:10 (NCV)
Of all the great Biblical characters Daniel is the only one of whom nothing evil or wrong is ever said or implied. In fact, if it were not for the record of his own prayer of national confession and repentance in Daniel 9, you might conclude that he was perfect and without sin. Yet, he had every opportunity to fall discouraged and rebel against God just as so many of his fellow countrymen did. He was taken captive among the exiles to Babylon as a young teen, separated from his family, when Jerusalem fell. He would remain there throughout the 70 years of Israel’s captivity. Scholars believe he may have died at the age of 85 still living in a foreign land. Imagine how discouraging that must have been. Despite his adverse circumstances as a captive for sins he didn’t commit you never read where Daniel complains or throws a pity party. In fact, here is God’s estimate of him found in Daniel 10:11 (NLT), “… Daniel, you are very precious to God….”. Another translation renders that, “Daniel, your God thinks highly of you.” (CEV). Wow! Considering his circumstances you may wonder what was it about Daniel that set him apart? I believe the answer is found in Daniel 6:10 (NCV), where the Bible records what Daniel did when the ruling King had signed an executive order of the Medes and Persians that could not be revoked, forbidding anyone from praying for the next 30 days. Violations of that order would result in being thrown in a den of lions! I love the way the New Century Version translates this verse in Daniel 6:10, showing us Daniel’s response. It says, “Even though Daniel knew that the new law had been written, he went to pray in an upstairs room in his house, which had windows that opened toward Jerusalem. Three times each day Daniel would kneel down to pray and thank God, just as he always had done.”
Daniel wasn’t doing anything cocky or foolhardy. He was simply doing what he had been doing every day for years, and he wasn’t about to back down now! Daniel was a man of prayer! He prayed every day. Three times a day, Daniel would kneel down in prayer with his window opened toward Jerusalem, the city he loved and longed to return. Daniel wasn’t ashamed of his God or his devotion to God. He didn’t even close the window but went about his usual prayer life.
You most likely know the story of where that daily habit of prayer landed Daniel – a lion’s den. But hopefully, you also know the end of the story, which is how God rescued him from those lions. Someone once said that the reason those lions didn’t eat Daniel was because he was 10% gristle and 90% backbone! His prayer life had made him confident in the God to whom he prayed and communed with every day. It brought him into close fellowship with God even though he was exiled over 800 miles from his homeland and Temple. Little wonder why he was so precious to God.
If daily prayer could set Daniel apart and give him confidence in the chaos of his world, what do you think it will do for you? Pray every day! Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you! Don’t let any distractions or human laws derail you from your daily time with God. As you pray day in and day out, you’ll begin to reflect the character and courage of a Daniel. Others will begin to see Jesus in your life. He will use you in ways you could never imagine!
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.