Resolve Day 2: Rejoice

Day 2: Rejoicing

     Resolve to pray: Today’s portion of Scripture leads us to our portrait in the study on prayer. You see, it isn’t the Lion’s Den where Daniel resolved to pray, but in his upper room and in his earlier days that he learned to pray. He was resolved in his prayer life despite and in the midst of the adverse circumstances.

⁶ So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! ⁷ All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. ⁸ Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” ⁹ Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

Daniel 6

     Replacement of prayer unacceptable: The Psalmist wrote in 5:2, “Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I will never pray to anyone but you.” (NLT). What are some things that seek to replace prayer? Self-meditation, positive thinking, manipulation, power, money, prestige, legislation, greed, strategy, worldliness, all seek to substitute for God and all of these can be seen in this passage. Matt. 6:33 says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.”

     Even prayer is no replacement to prayer. Some pray mechanically, methodically, with certain words in a certain direction but with no real relationship. Others pray with incoherent words or mantras or lotus-like positions that would make me cry out but not in prayer, but in painful agony. Even Jesus said those of his own religion would pray with meaningless repetitions.

     The contemporaries of Daniel said to pray only to King Darius. We can ask earthly persons and powers for things and it may seem more productive that praying to God in heaven. Indeed, God delights in answering our prayers through other people. But while doctors may be thanked, and medications may be touted, we should only and always first seek and always praise our Heavenly Father God, who provided the doctors with knowledge and medications with healing elements.

¹⁰ Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, 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.

     Realistic about situation: Daniel didn’t bury his head in the sand. He was aware of his environment and his surroundings and he counted the cost and said “I will still serve God.” Whether in calm or in clamor, Daniel’s custom since his earliest days was to pray. He didn’t speak out a prayer, denying the reality of the situation. But neither was he a “Debbie Downer,” saying woe is me. The reality of this evil world requires us to pray to a good God. The reality of the fallen nature of humanity requires us to pray to the faithful supernatural Father in Heaven. The reality of our own sins and our own depravities and short-fallings requires us to pray to Savior and Deliverer, Jesus Christ, the Risen One who is victorious over all things, including the most certain of all realities, death and the grave!

     Rejoice in your prayer: What was Daniel’s prayer? Did it consist of weeping, being worried or fearful? No, he thanked God, knowing full well what his circumstances were.

     Remember Habakkuk 3? 
¹⁶ When I heard, my body trembled; My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entered my bones; And I trembled in myself, That I might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people, He will invade them with his troops. ¹⁷ Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls-- ¹⁸ Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

     Don’t replace prayers with wishful thinking or worrisome thoughts. Rejoice in the Lord, not despite the circumstances, but in the midst of the circumstances. Paul said “give thanks in everything.” Not “give thanks for everything.” In every circumstance, good or bad, give thanks. Why? Because the Lord is with you in every circumstance.

It is better to be with God in the Worst Place than without God in the Best Place.

      As I said at the beginning, the theme of this week is Resolve to Pray. David said we are to pray three times a day: Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice., Ps. 55: 17. Elsewhere he says seven times, Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments, Ps. 119:164. Paul says in the New Testament we are to pray without ceasing (1 Thes. 5:17).

Don’t stop praying.