“Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” - Daniel 6:10
Teaching children is such a blessing. One of their favorite bible lessons is about Daniel in the lion's den. We are tempted to think of heroes like Daniel as superhuman with powers unattainable to the average person. The real Daniel was a man of flesh and blood just like we are. King Darius issued a decree that anyone who prayed to any god or human being except to the King for 30 days would be thrown in the lion's den. Daniel could have conformed and given in but he didn't, even faced with hungry lions that were waiting to devour him. What gave Daniel his courage?
Daniel 6:10 reveals that Daniel was in the HABIT OF PRAYER. He prayed “just as he had done before.” He was in the habit of talking with God daily. God knew his voice. I want my voice to be one God is accustomed to hearing every day and not just in a crisis situation. Do you?
Daniel trusted in the sovereignty of God. The scripture passage says “he got down on his knees.” He submitted himself to God's authority, trusting God to override anything contrary to his will. The physical posture of bending the knee to God's authority reminds us HE IS LORD.
Daniel cast himself entirely upon God. The word “prayed” in verse 10 translates from a Hebrew word meaning to “limp as if one sided.” In his own strength Daniel knew he was handicapped to walk the path before him. Through prayer he cast his weight on God and took one step at a time.
Daniel called and and unashamedly asked God for help. There is no doubt he was scared. He had no intention of turning his back on God, but he was understandably frightened of the circumstances ahead of him. Daniel may have prayed for God to change the King's decision, for the decree to be overturned, or maybe he simply asked for courage to die with dignity for the glory of God. We don't know. What we do know is that God showed that it wasn't Daniel's courage or the King's change of heart that saved him. It was God Himself who closed the mouth of the lions and who received the glory,
We live in a lion's den world. How do we face the lions in our lives? Victory is ours when we walk with God daily in “the habit of prayer”, when we know His word well enough to trust His sovereignty, and when we cast ourselves on Him and make an honest plea for help. Take a moment right now...He's waiting!
Gail Minshew
Upcoming Events
Saturday 4/18 - 7:30am - Brotherhood Breakfast
All men are invited to the monthly Brotherhood Breakfast which will be held this Saturday morning starting at 7:30am.
Saturday 4/18 - 9:00am - Clean-Up Day
Following the Brotherhood Breakfast, all are asked to come and help clean-up our upstair rooms starting at 9:00am. Any and all help will be appreciated!
Sunday 4/19 - Following the Service - Business Meeting
All members remember that we will have a business meeting following the service.
Tuesday 4/21 - 5:00pm - Matthew25
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