“…pray without ceasing…” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Daniel 2 introduces the importance and theme of prayer in Daniel’s life. A few chapters later, you’ll see that he prays three times a day and even does so publicly, which gets him in trouble. How does Daniel make it through Babylon? By praying. In any military combat, if you’re on the front lines and you lose sight of what’s happening and you’re not sure of the entire battle plan, you call into headquarters. They have the bigger perspective and give you directives to navigate through your battle zone. Prayer is the communication line to God, the commander-in-chief.
Before Daniel prayed, it says he “blessed” the God of Heaven (2:19). Let me ask you this: Could he have complained to the God of Heaven? He was in Babylon, not Israel. He was a eunuch, going to the University of Babylon, where he had a minor in witchcraft and a major in demon possession, and now they wanted to kill him even though he didn’t do anything wrong. He seemed to have plenty of reasons to complain, but he blessed God. It doesn’t matter how bad you have it; Daniel probably had it worse. If he could find something to praise God for, there’s always something to praise God for.
A few verses later (2:23), he says, “O God of my fathers.” The reason this teenage boy can make it through Babylon is because he had a faithful dad, a faithful grandpa, a faithful great-grandpa, and so on. If you’re a man, you’re the most influential presence in your home. If you read the Bible, pray, and worship, the odds are that the rest of your family will do the same. Daniel’s faith has been handed to him by generations of faithful men. The greatest treasure your family has is not heirlooms; it’s faith.
As Daniel goes back to talk to King Nebuchadnezzar, he tells him that no one can interpret his dream except God, because God’s the one who gave him the dream. He says in 2:30, “…this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living…” but because he is fully committed and devoted to God. The reason he can stand before this king is because he knelt before the King of Kings. This is where your prayer life sets up the rest of your life.
Tomorrow we will discuss the interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream.
How’s your prayer life right now? What can you do to make more time for prayer throughout your day?
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