Have you heard the story about the 85-year old man who was arrested for praying?
You probably have. That's the story of Daniel, an elderly Jewish resident in Babylon sentenced to death for faithfully talking to God (Daniel 6).
Although the prayer that sent Daniel to the lion's den is his most famous talk with God (6:11), it wasn't the only time we see him in prayer. In Daniel 9, we read an example of how he prayed. Daniel had been reading in his scroll of Jeremiah that the captivity of his people would last 70 years, and the people were 67 years into exile (Jeremiah 25:8-11). He was eager for it to end.
God had called his people to live righteously, but they weren't doing that. Daniel decided to live righteously despite their lack of faith. He began to pray that God would not delay the end of the captivity.
As he prayed, Daniel focused on worship and confession. His pattern of prayer gives us an important insight into talking to God. We are to recognize that God is "great and awesome" (v.4) and that "we have sinned" (v.15). In prayer, we praise and confess.
Let's follow Daniel's lead. To him, prayer was as vital as life itself.
No one stands as tall as a Christian on his knees.
- Dave Branon, writing for Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries
If you have not ordered Our Daily Bread for you and your family, then contact RBC Ministries today at www.rbc.org
Posted by John Bornschein, Vice Chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force
You probably have. That's the story of Daniel, an elderly Jewish resident in Babylon sentenced to death for faithfully talking to God (Daniel 6).
Although the prayer that sent Daniel to the lion's den is his most famous talk with God (6:11), it wasn't the only time we see him in prayer. In Daniel 9, we read an example of how he prayed. Daniel had been reading in his scroll of Jeremiah that the captivity of his people would last 70 years, and the people were 67 years into exile (Jeremiah 25:8-11). He was eager for it to end.
God had called his people to live righteously, but they weren't doing that. Daniel decided to live righteously despite their lack of faith. He began to pray that God would not delay the end of the captivity.
As he prayed, Daniel focused on worship and confession. His pattern of prayer gives us an important insight into talking to God. We are to recognize that God is "great and awesome" (v.4) and that "we have sinned" (v.15). In prayer, we praise and confess.
Let's follow Daniel's lead. To him, prayer was as vital as life itself.
No one stands as tall as a Christian on his knees.
- Dave Branon, writing for Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries
If you have not ordered Our Daily Bread for you and your family, then contact RBC Ministries today at www.rbc.org
Posted by John Bornschein, Vice Chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force
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