Daniel 6:10 " Now 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."
What was happening in Daniel’s life time taught many great things and life applicable lessons for the believers today. God let His people Israel and their kings becomes slaves whenever they sinned against Him or boasted proudly before Him. Likewise, If believers and leaders today don’t respect God and His Word in our lives, we will become slaves to the world and its wealth. Other kinds of unexpected difficulties and hardness will increase in our lives,.
What was happening in Daniel’s life time taught many great things and life applicable lessons for the believers today. God let His people Israel and their kings becomes slaves whenever they sinned against Him or boasted proudly before Him. Likewise, If believers and leaders today don’t respect God and His Word in our lives, we will become slaves to the world and its wealth. Other kinds of unexpected difficulties and hardness will increase in our lives,.
The meaning of Daniel's name is “The LORD is my judge”.
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah (about BC 605), Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. Even though Daniel was still a young man, he was caught as a slave and sent to Babylon with others.
When he arrived in this pagan world where nobody knew God. His name was changed by the Babylonian Chief officer to Belthesazar meaning "messenger of their goddess." They tried to influence him and change him, not only his belief but also his name. But Daniel was not afraid the king's authorities who can only kill the body. He rather feared and respected the heavenly God who can kill both body and soul. He knew that God alone is the King of all kings, the LORD of all lords. So, Daniel let God be the judge in his life.
Brothers and sisters, let God be our judge wherever we go or whatever we do in our daily lives.
When Martha tried to judge Mary before Jesus Christ in the Newtestament, she was rebuked. Jesus never teaches us to judge others. Mary was not just sitting in the sight of Jesus. She carefully listened to the Word of God and rested peacefully in the LORD.
Psalm 37 : 7 teaches us “Be still before the LORD and wait patently for Him….”
Don’t be satisfied with the congratulations of people, denominations or organizations. Let the meaning of Daniel’s name function well in our lives. Let us continue to stand firm in the truth that made us free and humble ourselves with prayerful lives wherever we are and whatever we do.
Daniel and his friends could willingly say that they would not defile themselves with ungodly things. It is so easy to be a believer in the church. The word “faith” is related to “faithfulness”. A faith that is not faithful and changing depending on the circumstance and situations can never be a true faith. A true believer of Christ cannot change from the lamp of God in the church to the wolf while he is outside the church. We always are the true lamp of God. We can never change depend on our circumstances. We cannot take off our salvation through faith in Christ, like we put on and take off our jackets all the time if we really are true believers in Christ.
Let’s show our faith and faithfulness by abiding in the Word of God and adore Him in whatever we do.
The results and benefits of abiding in God’s word and adoring Him alone are as the following;
Daniel and his friends were strong and handsome. They looked healthier and better nourished than any young men who ate the royal food. God also gave them knowledge of all kinds of literature and learning. Moreover, Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. It is not because they ate vegetables. They received all those gifts and talents by the time they were abiding in the Word of God. If we are also abiding in the Word of God and fearing Him , He can cloth us with those gifts and talents as He did to Daniel and his friends.
Proverb 22: 4 teaches us that “Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life”.
I personally believe that what gave Daniel a good life and strength in his faith is his prayer life. He always spent his time with God by praying three times a day. Eventhough the Bible does not tell us exactly, I think that Daniel would pray once in the morning, another time at noon and another time in the evening. As he prayed three times a day in this way, the temptation could never over come his life.
Unlike Daniel, believers today are not praying much each day. Some believers don’t pray at all. Therefore, when temptations come in our lives, we fail to overcome them.
Jesus knew that the only way to overcome the temptation is through prayer. He became a good example to us regarding a prayer life. He said to His disciples “Pray that you will not fall into temptation". How can we overcome temptation without having a prayer life?
As Daniel’s prayer life gave glory to God in the midst of the paganism who never heard about the living God, let us have daily prayer lives so that we will be able to bring glory to God in our villages, cities and communities. Prayer is our best tool, armor and equipment to make our inner man stronger and stronger while we are fighting for our faith in Christ on this earth.
Prayer can open heavenly blessings for us. It also makes our faith strong and gives us opportunity to draw near to God to bring peace and joy life in our daily lives. Moreover prayer can transform the nations and change the hearts of the people in the way God wants them to be; so that He can bless them.
Let’s make our own faith strong in God first by prayer and then pray for the nations that need transformation. God is ready to answer our prayer!
May Daniel’s prayer life come into our life too.
Blessings,
William.
The Scripture is the map of my life!
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