Monday: The Prayer
Daniel immediately grabs his three friends for a prayer session, explaining that they will be executed if God does not reveal the dream. Whenever we face a big problem, we also should recognize that our God is great enough to resolve even the most unsolvable challenges.
Read Daniel 2:17-23. What are the two kinds of prayers prayed here?
Image © Providence Collection at GoodSalt.com
Two types of prayer are mentioned in this chapter. The first is a petition prayer in which Daniel asks God to reveal the content of the dream and its interpretation (Dan. 2:17-19). The words of this prayer are not given, but we are told that Daniel and his friends “seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon” (Dan. 2:18, NKJV). As they pray, God answers their petition and reveals the content and interpretation of the king’s dream. We can rest assured that whenever we seek “mercies from the God of heaven” our prayers will be heard as well, even if not in such a dramatic manner as we see here, because the God of Daniel is our God too.
In response to God’s answering their petition, Daniel and his friends burst into a prayer of thanksgiving and praise. They praise God for being the source of wisdom and for being in control of nature and political history. There is an important lesson we can learn here. As we pray and plead with God for so many things, how often do we praise and thank Him for answering our prayers? The experience of Jesus with the ten lepers provides an apt illustration of human ingratitude. Out of ten who are healed, only one comes back “to give glory to God” (Luke 17:18). Daniel’s response not only reminds us of the importance of thanksgiving and praise, but also reveals the character of the God we pray to. When we pray to Him, we can trust Him to do what is in our best interest, and thus we should always praise and thank Him.
| Read Psalm 138:1-8. What can you take away from this prayer of thanksgiving that can help you learn to be thankful to God, regardless of your circumstances? |
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When I was a student studying for my London University BSc examinations, I can remember one of my fellow students praying for the miracle of making up for all of the things that he should have learned but had not. He was a student who had not grasped the key idea that examinations required preparation and that meant hours of study gaining experience in solving problems. Of course, the miracle did not happen and he failed the examination (I should add that the end of the story is not related to the point that I want to make but I will tell it anyhow. That student gave up studying science and started studying for the ministry and he became a very good minister right up to the current time.) Getting back to the point that I want to make. Miracles do not just happen. They take preparation and for Daniel and his three friends, it was not just the prayer of the moment but the years of faithful preparation that gave God the opportunity to perform a miracle. Daniel and his friends were prepared and had developed sufficient credibility in the court of Babylon that they were listened to.
The application for us today is that Christianity is now regarded as lacking credibility due to the public moral hypocrisy of those wearing the label "Christian". What can we do to ensure that we are credible witnesses?
The story of the prayer of Daniel and his three companions is an inspiration to live faithfully and daily resolving to be on the path of righteousness in all that we are called to do and to be. They acknowledged there was a problem, and only God had the solution. Sometimes we struggle looking for answers to our problems or those affecting our families, and all in vain we don't get answers without knowing that the answer was only a prayer away. May God help us to trust Him with both small and big troubles, always remembering that "He cares for us"
Prayer is power !!!
The LORD is all powerful and merciful - prayer is only the means of communicating with Him!!
GRAB YOUR FRIENDS!
For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them. Matt 18:20
For if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, God will do it for you. Matt 18:19
For if you lack wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously. James 1:5
For the spirit of the lord will rest on you- the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of might, the spirit of the knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11:2
Prayers 🙏 prayers 🙏 prayers 🙏
Is all we want....it is the only right channel
Amen. I'm blessed with these discussions especially the *prayer title*
Praise be to God for the inspiration he shoves.
Holy Ghost help me to give you thanks 24/7. Let thanks be my lifestyle.
Read Psalm 138:1-8. What can you take away from this prayer of thanksgiving that can help you learn to be thankful to God, regardless of your circumstances?
The story was told about the ten lepers who were healed.
The disease leprosy was a communicable disease which was greatly contagious. It was feared and dreadful, no human wanted such a disease. No other diseases caused a separation from families and friends. One had to identified himself/herself from a distance while moving from point A to point B as UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN. If confirmed with the disease one had to join the others in a separate place to prevent contamination. Beds, chairs etc had to be burnt. It was so dreadful that a King had to stay in his house until he died. Cleaning had to be preform after coming in contact with both the dead and the living.
In light of, despite of, knowing that, the Great Physician had pity on those ten people and healed them. The Bible stated only one returned to say thanks. Saying thanks is good and pleasant in the site of God. Our prayers to God should be more given of thanks for all the blessings he hath bestowed on us.
O give thanks to the Lord for all his kindness.
Daniel and his friends recognized what it meant to be thankful to God. Do we always or most of the time remember to say thanks to God and man?
To God be the Glory! I too, am blessed and enriched with these discussions. Thank you! 🙏🏽