Although Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he continued to go to his house, which had windows in its upper room open towards Jerusalem, and to get down on his knees three times a day to pray to his God and praise him, just as he had done previously. The conspirators came and found Daniel praying and seeking mercy before his God. Then they approached the king and said concerning the interdict, \u2018O king! Did you not sign an interdict, that anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human, within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions?\u2019 The king answered, \u2018The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.\u2019 Then they responded to the king, \u2018Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the interdict you have signed, but he is saying his prayers three times a day.\u2019<\/p>\n
When the king heard the charge, he was very much distressed. He was determined to save Daniel, and until the sun went down he made every effort to rescue him. Then the conspirators came to the king and said to him, \u2018Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no interdict or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.\u2019<\/p>\n
Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, \u2018May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!\u2019 A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no food was brought to him, and sleep fled from him.<\/p>\n
Reflection<\/strong><\/p>\n We often see the expression, \u2018I\u2019ll pray for you\u2019 used as code for, \u2018I\u2019m not going to do anything to help.\u2019 It\u2019s easy to think praying is just talking to the walls, or to ourselves. And yet, when taken seriously, prayer has amazing power.<\/p>\n I come from a country that was not unlike Persia in the time of Daniel. The Communist dictatorship seemed all-powerful and immovable. And when Christians united to pray for the fall of the regime, it was gone in three weeks. I have seen amazing answers to prayer. I have also prayed and nothing seemed to happen. I don\u2019t know why God answers some prayers and doesn\u2019t answer others. But he is unlikely to answer our prayers if we don\u2019t pray.<\/p>\n In Daniel\u2019s time, powerful men plotted together to stop Daniel\u2019s prayers; it didn\u2019t work. In our time, it seems that it takes a lot less to stop us \u2013 busyness, social media, addiction to devices, or simple lack of faith. So we grow complacent, and we no longer believe in a supernatural, all-powerful God. But it\u2019s not God who stopped being the God described in the Bible \u2013 it\u2019s us who stopped accessing his supernatural power through prayer.<\/p>\n Try it. Write down a list of the things you want changed in your life, in your family, in our country, or in the world. Then, bring that list to God. You don\u2019t need flowery, religious words \u2013 just read the list to God. Don\u2019t just do it once – keep doing it. You will be amazed at the results.<\/p>\n Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n Lord God, these days there are no lions threatening to eat us; Although Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he continued to go to his house, which had windows in its upper room open towards Jerusalem, and to get down on his knees three times a day to pray to his God and praise him, just as he had done previously. The conspirators came and … <\/p>\n
no fiery furnaces await us;
no powerful people plot against us.
Today we willingly give up our power as your children,
for the cheap amusements the world throws our way.
Please forgive us and grant us courage:
to stand when no one stands with us;
to pray when few believe in prayer;
to trust in you when it seems foolish and useless. Amen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"