Day 1 January 2nd 2019
Psalm 51:10-12:
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me
from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of my salvation and grant me a
willing spirit, to sustain me.
Daniel 6:10:
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.
It was Daniel’s practice, three times a day, to go to
an upstairs room in his apartment, open the windows
facing Jerusalem, get down on his knees, and pray
to the one true God. No doubt, Daniel prayed at
other times also. He probably prayed throughout the
day. But there were these special times, set aside
times, where it was his priority to meet with God in
prayer. In fact, it was such a priority to Daniel that
when the king passed a decree that for the next
thirty days people could only pray to the king, Daniel
was unfazed. “No way.” Daniel may have been an
important official in Darius’ kingdom, but when the
king’s law (don’t pray) conflicted with God’s Law
(pray), the choice was clear. Daniel just kept right on
praying.
Read Daniel 6. Daniel was thrown in the lion’s lair,
but God protected Daniel, delivered Daniel, honored
Daniel, and put it in the Bible for all to see.
Of the many truths in this stunning chapter, one
concerns Daniel’s prayer. Three times a day, he
set aside a special time to pray. God nowhere
commands us that we must do the same, but there
is wisdom here. Wisdom would suggest a special
time, or several briefer times, set aside each day to
meet with God in prayer. A time we prioritize
Yes, we want to pray throughout the day, an ongoing
conversation with our Father. But it is wise to also
have a special time of prayer each day. Maybe it’s
not a long time, but it is your time, as in you and
God. It is your time to talk and listen and be together,
no matter what else happens that day. Your time to
connect. During that time, God will fill you up, restore
your soul, and prepare you for whatever the day
brings.
REFLECT:
• Describe your thoughts around Daniel and his
commitment to the Lord.
• What special time will you set aside in the next
21 days to talk and listen to God?
PRAYER:
Lord, awaken my heart to Your love. Give me an
increased hunger to spend more time in prayer,
worship, and Your Word. Please give me a greater
awareness of Your holiness, a tender conscience,
and a heart to please You in every thought, word,
and deed.