Daniel 6:3 – 11 “ Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.
4 Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.
5 So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.”
(The jealous officials tricked the king into signing an irrevocable law that no one was allowed to pray or worship anyone but the king for 30 days.)
“10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
11 Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help.”
This is amazing to me, that Daniel heard about the new law forbidding him to pray, and the first thing he does is go home and PRAY about it! He was a faithful man of prayer, and he feared and respected God more than man. He was asking for God’s help! He also continued to pray as he had before, with the windows open! He could have shut the blinds and hid in the closet to pray in secret. God would still have heard his prayers, and he might have avoided the lions den! But he was not afraid.
Even knowing that the lions den would be his fate, he worshiped God. He had his windows open toward Jerusalem, his ruined city that God loved, and he prayed for God’s will to come to pass. To read what happened to Daniel, read the rest of the story in the Bible, Daniel, chapter 6.
While I painted this I was in prayer for a city United States that is in turmoil right now, beset with violence, and filled with smoke and ashes from it’s burning. It’s skyline is in the background of the painting.
I also prayed for godly men and women around the world to have that kind of courage that will choose to seek the Lord, even when it is illegal, uncomfortable, and a RISK. Even when others are looking for a way to find fault, to take them out!
I am lifting up the Christians who are in government right now in places of authority like Daniel. May their example and character be blameless, and may they stand by their convictions and seek the Lord continually for guidance!
Speaking of courage in prayer.......... Sept 26th, that is this Saturday!, Franklin Graham is having a prayer march on Washington D.C. from 12-2pm Eastern time. It is really more of a prayer walk, it is supposed to be a quiet respectful prayer walk to pray for the country. Please pray with me that it doesn’t get crashed by violent offenders!
Also, we are having a prayer walk in our town! Elk Horn, as well as Harlan are planning on having prayer walks. In Harlan we will start at 11am in front of the statue at the courthouse and we will walk the square, then head over to the school and walk and pray around it as well!
Join us in person, or at home in prayer, or walk around your own community if you get the chance. Lets lift up this whole country to the Lord, who is the only one who can make lasting changes we so desperately need in the United States, and in the world!
-Deborah King
p.s. Can you guess by the skyline which city has been heavy on my heart lately?