18/02/11

Prayer Life

Daniel 6:9-10
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict.
10 And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.


In the Bible there are 3 people who are certified by the Lord as to be righteous and among them was Daniel. It is not that the others were not good people but the way of life of these 3 was more according to the Word of God or Will of the Lord.

The things a basic Christian can learn from the life of Daniel is prayer life, fasting, standing for the Truth, using wisdom of God in this world, our relationship towards unbelievers etc...

As per today's message the Lord wants us to learn about our prayer life from Daniel.

Prayer means communicating with the Lord and for a person who walks in Spirit it is a 24x7 job. What we are discussing here is that time when we have a close door exclusive time with the Lord (you do not necessary need to be alone in a room but need to be alone mentally with the Lord). This is a thumb rule and would not necessarily hold for all people and even if holding for that person many not hold in all situations. We are suppose to be led by the Spirit so when the Lord does not instruct us we follow what is given.

The Lord has in the Bible through the Book of Moses by the symbolization through the sacrifices gives us His basic expectation of spending exclusive time with Him. This was what Daniel followed.

Prayer is a catalysis in the life of a Christian therefore very necessary, but a Christian who only prays and does nothing else is not a true Christian. He or she is like a vehicle with the best radial wheels but no engine. Prayer life is the wheels of the car but the witnessing life and mission life is the engine of the car, so both are essential.

A person who sits whole day just praying and doing nothing else is not a disciple of Christ. Thus when a person comes to me and says he or she has a prayer ministry then I know that this person does not really know Christ and lacks relationship with Him.

Daniel would at least sit thrice a day with the Lord and these three sittings were not of long durations for we know that those who wanted to catch him red handed doing this would wait.

Not going deep into scriptures here the Bible tells us to spend minimum 15mins at least 3 times daily exclusive with the Lord and once a week at least 3 hours (there are also times expectations for once a month and a year these are there in my teaching on Prayer Part II which I will load soon on my website SavedByFaith.info).

This prayer pattern was also seen in the life of Jesus as written in the Gospels.

These time slots should not be the leftovers from our worldly life. The Lord does not want our excreta He demands our first fruits. So make sure our first time slot is the early morning slot before we start our worldly routines.

Again I like to reiterate this is basic expectation a thumb rule for every Christian and would wary for some people and also according to situations in the life of a Christian (in computer terms written as default value).


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, we are blessed to know You and to worship You as our Lord and Master. We are humbled that You find it worthy to speak to this mere human who is like an insect before You. Lord, You want us to make is your Sons mature and strong. Help us grow in all areas and live life according to your desire...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scripture ]
Ezekiel 14:13-20
13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:
14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
15 If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:
16 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.
17 Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:
18 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.
19 Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:
20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

Daniel 6:10-13
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king痴 decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

Matthew 29:19-20
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)