Join us this Sunday! In-Person 9:00am & 10:45am, Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Join us this Sunday! In-Person 9:00am & 10:45am, Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Join us at the next Sunday worship service:
In-Person
9:00am & 10:45am,
Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

The Strength to Kneel

So King Darius put the decree in writing. 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. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.” – Daniel 6:9-11.

Daniel was committed to prayer. And I mean committed. A terrible law had been passed by King Darius. King Darius’ law stated that anyone who prays to any God or man apart from King Darius himself for 30 days will be thrown into the den of lions. In other words, he will be sent to perish. This law was signed, sealed, and delivered. It was done. It was official. No change can be tolerated. Daniel knew that the law against praying to God was signed and put into effect. The Bible tells us that he simply went to God in prayer. He placed his faith in God and it was a remarkable faith because he deliberately opened the windows. Why would he open the windows? He opened the windows so that others may see. Here was a man who believed in God and even though his head would roll if he should practice his faith, he trusted His God.

We can learn a lot from Daniel on the hard work of prayer. We can also learn why each follower of Jesus needs to make a commitment to prayer and why it needs to be an essential part of our lives. The fact is that if we are to be successful in our prayer lives, we must make the commitment.

Prayer was an expression of Daniel’s personal devotion to dependency upon His God. Notice that it says that he gave thanks to his God (v.10) and that he was making supplication to his God (v.11). Daniel was loyal to King Darius, but he had a higher loyalty to God.

Daniel devoted specific time for prayer. There was a consistency in his prayer life. Three times each day. Psalms 55:16-17 tells us: “As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.” Luke 18:1 says, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” And 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “…pray continually,…” 

Another example of the power of prayer is the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:10-28. We can learn from this story on how to pray, in a way like Hannah did, that God will use us and our life for his greater purposes.”…Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord…’I have been praying here out of my great anguish…'” ~ 1 Samuel 1:10, 16

Remember that kneeling to pray is what gives you the strength to stand.

Discussion Questions:

  1. If you were arrested for being a person of prayer, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
  2. Daniel prayed when it was against the law to pray. Why do you think he continued his daily prayer regimen even when He knew it could be dangerous?
  3. Do you have a daily prayer regimen? What were some characteristics of Daniel’s prayer life we can emulate?
  4. Have you ever felt like Hannah that no other person can meet your need ? How can prayer help?
  5. Make a commitment to pray to God daily.

<PREVIOUS

NEXT >