10 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.
As I read this I was wondering what lesson is tucked in here for today's world. I noticed Daniel's behavior when the government tried to disconnect him from God, I recognize that was not necesarrily their end game goal as much as getting him in trouble was their goal and this was their trap. But none the less what I noticed was Daniel's behavior in the face of the government trying to control him and prevent his relationship wiht God. His behavior was not to go fight back directly or make a public display and attack the government's attempt to block his time of prayer. Instead he went to the privacy of his upstairs roo at home and got down and prayed for God's help in the matter.
What if my first response to problems was to go to God for help? How might my life be different? How might the world be different if collectively we as Christians always went to God in prayer before taking actions ourselves? I don't think it means laying down and taking it from those who seek to separate us from God but at the same time maybe we need to rely on God more than we do to help change the world we live in. It seems our society is moving further away from God all the time, but I have to admit I don't spend a lot of time in prayer asking God for help and to use me in a way to make a difference if he chooses.
So my takeaway from Daniel today is to go first to God in prayer with any obstacles I face.
knut
What struck me today, was the committment Daniel had to his prayer time with God. It says he did it 3 times a day. He would seclude himself and spend time praying. I think that's a great model for us, and something I'm definitley not doing that deliberately or consistently.
ReplyDeleteI like what you said about Daniel not trying to protest the law, or cause a stir. He simply kept doing what he knew to be right. In all of these chapters, Daniel is operating his life on a different level than the people around him. They scurry about making idols, and constructing new laws to flaunt their own wealth and power...and Daniel doesn't play they game at all. He just keeps doing his thing, in spite of it all.
That is my take for the day. To be consistent with God, in spite of my eartly situation. Like you said, "go first to God in prayer."
tp