Title Daniel 06:10-15 Pray like Daniel
Contents
Pray like Daniel (Daniel 6:10-15)
There is an answer to your earnest prayer
We must constantly seek with an attitude of absolute faith in God.
Bill Gates said this in an interview. My wife, who is a staunch Catholic, asks me to go to church, but she doesn't. The reason why she doesn't go is because religion is very inefficient in terms of economics. This mindset of Bill Gates is the universal mindset that many people have today.
Modern people have a strong sense of science and rationalism, so they have a strong rejection of religion as well as prayer. Then he said, “Why should I pray? What is the use of praying?” has the awareness of prayer futility.
On the other hand, there are those who find the object of prayer wrong. They acknowledge that life is not limited by their own strength. It is for this reason that fortune tellers are overflowing with customers even though we live in an age of advanced science like today.
So, in a big way, there are only two types of the world. Humanists who say they live on their own, and people who think that prayer is necessary, but the object of prayer is wrong. To such people, today's text clearly shows that their thinking is wrong. The fact is that God is a personal God with designation, and that God hears our prayers.
Daniel was taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 605 B.C. By the grace of God, he ascended to the position of prime minister, and King Darius of Media also trusted Daniel and made him prime minister. Then the other prime ministers and princes became jealous and plotted to overthrow Daniel. It was forbidden to bow down to any god other than the king for 30 days, and to put him in a lion's den if he violated it. Still, Daniel continued to pray. Let's take a look at how Daniel prayed.
First, it was a prayer that was immortal.
In verse 10 we can see that Daniel opened the window toward Jerusalem and prayed three times a day, as he had done before. Daniel prayed even though he knew that his enemies would keep an eye out for accusations. He prayed until he died. He was able to do so because he was confident that God heard his prayers. Exodus 2:24 tells us that God heard the suffering of the people of Israel. God hears our prayers. So the most important premise for Christians is the belief that God hears. I don't know whether God hears or not, but no one prays with their life risking their lives. Daniel had faith that God heard his prayers, so he prayed even to death.
Second, it was a prayer based on God's faithfulness.
Daniel believed in God's faithfulness. The next day, when Dario went to see Daniel early in the morning, he simply said, “Are you alive?” Instead of asking, “Did the LORD whom you serve all the time deliver you?” (verse 20). I asked if the God who believed that you were the savior, followed and served, really delivered you according to that promise.
Therefore, prayer should be based on the faithfulness of God. Because God is faithful, if we strive to live according to His will, struggle, and pray, God will not abandon us and He will surely save us.
So, when we pray, we should not ask for help vaguely, but we should hold on to God's promises and pray based on God's faithful disposition. That's biblical. It is not in vain to pray and believe in God's faithfulness in any circumstance and in any seemingly impossible situation. It is a natural effort for God's faithful assurance. At that time, the faithful God will save us.
Third, it was a prayer that sought God's will.
Daniel's prayer was always a prayer that sought God's will. The content of Daniel's prayer is clearly shown in chapter 9. Daniel, who sought God's will, realized God's will during prayer. As recorded in 9:2, they are the rebellious people of Judah who have left God, but they will receive the promise of hope that they will return to Jerusalem after 70 years.
We should seek God's will when we pray. God has something He wants to accomplish for us. But I don't know about it and I only get what I want. I am only praying too much wish-oriented. The spirit of prayer is not to carry out my will. Are we standing before the real God? Whether you are seeking God's will or not should be the problem. In that sense, Daniel's prayer really reminds us of what true prayer is.
Sermon notes
Daniel prayed with the window open toward Jerusalem in an attitude of absolute faith in God. It was an immortal prayer. Daniel also believed in God's faithfulness and prayed. Finally, Daniel always sought God's will. So Daniel was able to realize while praying that the Israelites who were taken captive in Babylon would return to Jerusalem in 70 years. We too must pray for the will of God. Then, like Daniel, God saves us and sets us up as noble people.