by David Brenneman and Daniel
"Then these commissioners and satraps came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: “King Darius, live forever! All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ den. Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.” Therefore King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction. Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God." Daniel 6:6-11.
Maybe you noticed the slight alteration to who's writing this post today.
Daniel is certainly writing to all who would read about his life with the Lord. He makes no mention of it when they were first taken to Babylon but the evidence is clear that from a young age he had the unshakable, unbreakable, covenant conviction to pray every single day. He met with the Lord 3 times a day and nothing nor anyone would ever change that.
Read between the lines concerning how and why Daniel succeeded in all he did. Where did it start? Where did it come from?
We cannot show others a life in Christ if we aren't living it our in an unashamed manner. We shouldn't make excuses for missing our own appointments with Jesus.
Yet we do. We allow this or that to get in the way. We desire things that would make us potentially happy at the expense of a moment or two with Jesus who died in our place.
We allow excuse after excuse and wiggle out of the responsibility that we have been taught to obey in.
Daniel certainly shows the example for all of us. I know that personally catching the message of this post has brought conviction to my heart.
We easily find the time for many things but never really get consistent in prayer.
Daniel's life exuded prayer as being of the utmost importance. As did Joseph. Those visions he had whereby his brothers and father were upset with him? Those came from a life obedient to the Lord. His own family didn't recognize the hand of the Lord in them although Israel aka Jacob kept what these words were in his heart and mind.
Throughout the life of Joseph we read of how the Lord was with him.
This leads us to his prayer life. Joseph was a man of prayer.
Daniel was a man of prayer. When he prayed Heaven certainly heard.
What is holding you back from a greater prayer life? What is it that convinced you that it was optional or wasn't really worth your undivided attention? Consider the silence that's there where there should be conversations between you and Jesus.
Daniel's life exemplifies commitment. Even if facing earthly judgment he didn't care and wouldn't stop. Just as his friends answered King Nebuchadnezzar so in his actions he said the same to Darius and those who accused him.
His life is our example just as much as Joseph's. Keep this in mind as you reread Psalms 139:1-24. If we believe that He the Lord Jesus Christ knows us this well and believe His promises concerning us, shouldn't we desire to get to know the One who loves us to that extent?
Yes this going to mean letting go of things we claim to like or love. But we cannot know the benefits until we break that cycle and start this one with the right heart attitude.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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