Prayerful No. 11 of Daniel’s Dozen

Example. Perhaps nothing is more powerful. There is no leadership that doesn’t lead by example, whether godly or evil. How we live, talk and think impacts others. The closer they are to us, the greater the impact. Does your example build or tear down? Francis Bacon said, “He that gives good advice, builds with one hand; he that gives good counsel and example, builds with both; but he that gives good admonition and bad example, builds with one hand and pulls down with the other.”

We are looking closely at the example of one Daniel, the ancient Jewish statesman, prophet and writer of the book that bears his name. Daniel’s Dozen are twelve traits he modeled in his life, all of which point us to the greater Daniel if you will, the Lord Jesus Christ. Today we consider his example of prayer.

How much do we actually pray? Sometimes I fear that we Christians talk about prayer more than we pray and request prayer more than we actually pray for others.

Our family recently got new cell phones. The name of the company will be withheld to protect the guilty. New phones meant new and assorted problems. I was in the store for one hour and forty minutes. My wife had to make three trips to finally work out all the problems with her phone. It was a painful reminder that communication amongst us humans can be a painful and difficult experience.

But what about communication with God? If you will allow me to milk the analogy for a moment, consider that our plan with God is free to us, yet it cost Jesus His very life. There are no dropped calls on God’s side and no busy signals. Unlike us, God doesn’t screen calls from His children and send you to voice mail. Thankfully, we’ll never hear, “This is God. I’m currently busy or away from my throne. Please leave a message, with your name and number …”

The Prayer Plan has free days, nights, weekends. There are no roaming charges. It comes with unlimited minutes and unlimited texting, if you like to write your prayers. What are we waiting on!

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.
O what peace we often forfeit, o what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Apparently, Daniel did carry everything to God in prayer. Upon the threat of death, an emergency prayer meeting is called and the four teens pray deep into the night.

The foolish new King signs a law that no prayer will be allowed except to him, but Daniel doesn’t pack it in. He continues to fight on his knees, bowing toward Jerusalem three times a day. There was no change in his devotion, not matter what the government said. They will have to kill us to take prayer away from us! That won’t work either, for then we’ll see God face to face and talk with Him as a man talks with his friend.

Daniel reads Jeremiah’s prophecy and learns that God had decreed 70 years for the Babylonian exile. He checks the calendar and realizes the 70 years are almost up. Does he throw a going home party? Does he start packing? No! Instead, Daniel gave attention to God, to seek Him by prayer, fasting, sackcloth and ashes (cf. Daniel 9:1-3) and then prays one of the most God-honoring confessions of sin to be found.

Whether being marched to the lion’s den or pulled out of bed to explain some strange writing on a wall, we can know for certain that he was praying every step of the way!

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Daniel models three critical principles of prayer for believers of all ages. One, we should pray spontaneously and as needed, throughout our day and night. If someone asks you for prayer, don’t tell them you will pray for them. When it comes to prayer, there is no time like right now! Two, we should pray regular, daily, scheduled prayers, remembering that what get’s scheduled, gets done. Three, our praying should be generated, informed and influenced by our Bible intake. Pray often. Pray daily. And pray Bible.

Jesus commands us to pray some nine times in gospels. He assumed we would pray. He taught His disciples to pray. Jesus prayed in obedience, as an example and because He needed prayer just like He needed air. In the incarnation, He humbled and submitted Himself to human need and topping the list is prayer.

In reviewing the gospels, we discover that Jesus modeled prayer (Luke 6:12 and 22:45; Mat. 14:23) and that prayer was sacred to Him (Mat. 21:13). He encouraged us to pray and not give up (Mat. 21:22, Luke 18:1). He turned to God in prayer in times of crisis (Mat. 26:36, Luke 22:41, John 17) and before major decisions (Luke 6:12-13). He prayed as a regular course of life (Mark 6:46, Luke 5:16). He grabbed others to pray with Him (Luke 9:28, 11:1).

Rate your prayer life on a scale of 1 – 10? Now, what one thing would most drastically improve that number?
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered w/ a loud of care?

Precious Savior, still our Refuge, Take it to the Lord in Prayer.
Do Your friends despise, forsake You? Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield you, You will find a solace there.