Learning Daniel's Prayer SecretsПримерок

Facing Challenges and Prayer

Daniel daily faced the most difficult, ungodly circumstances. He did not just keep a nine-to-five job. Everyone in the king's court had to be positive and pleasing – or it could cost you your life! There was no such thing as disciplinary hearings, three warnings or even dismissal. Immediate execution was the sentence for anyone who displeased the king. What then distinguished Daniel from the other captives in the king's court?

Just imagine; he had to listen to blasphemies all day long, foul language, hear magic spells, smell potions mixed to perform witchcraft and much more! Who of us would have remained standing like Daniel under such circumstances? As a captive, he had no hope to ever escape from Babylon. What was the secret that kept Daniel standing? He learned to completely rest in God – and this is what distinguished him from the rest.

Another lesson to learn from Daniel is his response to persecution or resistance. When the king was tricked into signing a decree that forbade prayer to anyone except himself, with the penalty of ending up in the lion's den, what did Daniel do? He went into his room, and he openly prayed to his God as usual. Daniel kept a regular prayer discipline. Even when he knew his life would be at stake, he did not draw back and he did not start praying in secret – he kept his practice like before. What an example to follow!

We all have to examine the true condition of our current spiritual state. Where we have become slack, we need to pick up on spiritual disciplines. Where we are under persecution e.g. at work or at home, we should not shrink back in fear. Also we need to encourage one another to remain vigilant in following Christ.

The Lord is inviting us to return to keeping Biblical spiritual disciplines so we remain connected to Him – to hear His voice, to walk with Him daily, to be free from shame and to seek opportunities to pray for people or testify to them. Those who seek God like this, boldly seeking opportunities to be obedient to God, will have favor with God when they kneel down to pray. Such ones will be known by heaven.