Daniel was a devout follower of God. He had developed the spiritual habit of seeking God, no matter his situation. His enemies knew about his devotion and used it to trap him. They convinced the king to create a law that would make it impossible for Daniel to continue praying to God.
However, Daniel was not deterred. He had already built a routine
of praying three times a day in the rooftop chamber of his garden with open
windows. He would kneel and thank God, always keeping Jerusalem in his
heart. Even when he heard about the new law that could result in his death,
Daniel did not stop his routine. He continued to seek God fearlessly, unlike
others who would be cowed into not expressing
their faith openly.
From Daniel's example, we can learn about the nature of
genuine prayer. Firstly, prayer requires courage. Even without any threat, some
people are afraid to thank God publicly for the meal they would partake in. Here, Daniel
prayed openly despite the threat to his life. It takes courage to pray.
Secondly, prayer requires focus. Daniel prayed toward
Jerusalem, showing his love and concern for God and the city He loves. He was
always focused on God's will and the welfare of the beloved city of God. Prayer
requires the same level of focus and attention.
Thirdly, prayer requires discipline. Daniel made it a habit
to pray three times a day, no matter his situation. He did not let
anything stop him from seeking God. In today's busy world, making prayer a last resort is easy. We need discipline to make prayer a spiritual habit. We
should strive to cultivate the habit of prayer with God's help.
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