Lion’s Den Praying
|
What would you do if you were thrown in a den of ferocious, hungry lion? Would you run, scream, faint, or pray up a storm? In all probability you very likely would perish. But Daniel, counselor to kings, spent a night in a lion’s den and lived to tell about it. Why did he survive? Daniel didn’t wait until he was thrown in a lion’s den to pray – he lived a life of prayer. Daniel’s enemies coveted his job and sought to destroy him. (Daniel 6) The only thing they could find against Daniel was that in their view he prayed too much. So they plotted to have the king throw Daniel into the lion’s den. |
Daniel knew about the king’s decree not to pray to any god or man except King Darius for 30 days. But Daniel went home “and . . . with his window open . . . he knelt down on his knees three times that day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days” (Daniel 6:10). Daniel’s enemies were watching him. They had the goods on him. The king had no choice but to honor the decree and have Daniel thrown into the den of hungry lions. But the king of all kings shut the lion’s mouths. The next morning, King Darius saw that Daniel was still alive and proclaimed the greatness of Daniel’s God.
I made a list of 20 reasons why we should pray before we find ourselves in a lion’s den of trouble. Consider a few of these reasons to pray.
First - PRAYER IS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A PERSONAL GOD. (Revelation 3:20; John 15) I read a story of a woman who for years was married to a harsh husband who every day left a list of chores to be completed before he returned. If she didn’t complete the tasks she would face his anger. But he was never satisfied when she did. The husband eventually died. She later remarried a man who lavished her with tenderness and adoration. One day she found a list of chores from her first husband. As she read it she realized with tears of joy, “I’m still doing these things but no one has to tell me – I do them because I love my husband.” We don’t pray and serve God to go to heaven – we pray and serve our Lord because we are going to heaven. Prayer becomes a relationship of gratitude and love for our God and Savior.
Second - PRAYER IS A PRIVILEDGE TO PARTNER WITH GOD TO BRING ABOUT HIS KINGDOM. (Daniel 9; Ezekiel 22:30; Matthew 6:1-14)
Third - PRAYER HAS POWER TO MOVE MOUNTAINS. (Daniel 6:24-28; Matthew 21:18-22)
Fourth – PRAYER BRINGS PARDON OF SIN when prayed in faith and repentance. (Daniel 9:1-9) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9).
When God says to pray He really means it. Like Daniel we should be people of prayer. I encourage you to make a decision to pray more. Set up a specific plan to do so.
“Lord, when you were on earth you prayed. You prayed in the morning, at night, you prayed alone, and you prayed with people. In hours of distress and hours of joy, you lifted up your heart and hands to the Father in prayer. Help us to be more like you in this way by making prayer a priority in our daily lives.”
by: Cliff Sanders