Just One Response

Daniel 6:10-11 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. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.
 
DANIEL has a life pattern of prayer. We saw in Daniel 2 how he prayed to God the impossible. He asked the Lord of Heaven to reveal Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and its meaning. God revealed the dream. His power became known in Babylon.
    The Persian authorities attacked Daniel through his faithful and persistent prayer life. They knew he prayed three times a day because he opened his windows to the direction of Jerusalem. Daniel continued his daily prayers in full view of his opposition. Jesus’ faithful followers learn here we do not keep their faith private.
    What did he pray? Daniel purposefully and obediently prayed God’s prayer command from Jeremiah 29:12-14 “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Daniel and others called on God. They prayed God’s will to deliver them. They sought God with all their heart. And God responded to these faithful prayers. Darius would permit the Jews’ return. God fulfills his Word.
    This the Lord’s prayer, isn’t it? As we pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) we submit our lives to God. We know God’s will because he tells us in his Scriptures. God’s will is to accomplish his promises to his people – his church – in his time.
    But what happens? We are prone, aren’t we, to easily stop praying if there is no quick response from heaven. But consider that Daniel prayed nearly 70 years for the Jews’ return. As we look to the needs of our family, church, nation and world, let’s first seek what the Bible says. The prayer in agreement with God’s Word. Be of patient, persistent prayer, trusting God. Remember the Lord teaches us to pray, so we will faithfully proclaim our trust in his will for all things.
 
Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the church.