The Holy Habit of Prayer
Good habits don't just happen. Instead, they are established over time by repetition and consistency. This is true of every good habit, including the holy habit of prayer. And this became crystal clear to me in my recent study of the book of Daniel.
In case you're not familiar with Daniel's story, he was exiled to Babylon along with three friends, following the fall of Jerusalem in 605 BC. Once there, he and his friends were given new names and assimilated into Babylonian culture and practices. Yet, despite this, they remembered their true identity as Hebrews, and remained loyal to their God.
In Babylon, Daniel experienced God's continuous blessing, which resulted in favor with every king he served. Unfortunately, at one point in his life, this became a source of jealousy among “fellow leaders”, resulting in their seeking a way to sabotage his reputation. However, this was nearly impossible as Daniel was consistently faithful and trustworthy. So, the jealous tribe opted instead to accuse him on the basis of his religion. They then convinced the king to enact a law stating that anyone who prayed to anyone other than he, would be thrown into a den of lions. This appealed to the king's ego, he signed the decree, and the law was issued.
Surprisingly, when Daniel learned of the law—a law that meant a death sentence for him—he did not panic, flee, or compromise. Instead, he went home, knelt down in his upstairs room, and with its windows open towards Jerusalem, he prayed as was his regular habit. Yet, not just once, or even twice, but rather three times a day, giving thanks to God just as he had always done.
We simply can’t miss this. In his time of extreme crisis, Daniel continued doing exactly what he’d always done — he prayed. And this is worthy of our consideration.
You see, Daniel knew full well what the king's law said, and what it would mean for him personally. Yet, despite this, he responded with unwavering faithfulness and courage, and he was empowered to do this because of his consistent, long-standing holy habit of prayer, a habit that prepared, sustained, protected and positioned him throughout his life.
And my friends, this is good news for us, as we too can live this way. We too can face crises with boldness and courage. But before this can become our instinctive response, we must first establish a daily, consistent habit of prayer. By committing to do this, we are then better equipped to face life’s challenges as Daniel did, fearlessly, faithfully, and dependently on God.
Pray
Father God, thank you so much for Your timeless Word that continually speaks to me. I am grateful for Daniel’s story and its many life lessons—including the critical need of establishing a holy, consistent habit of prayer. Empower me by Your Holy Spirit to respond to life’s challenges as Daniel did–fearlessly, faithfully and prayerfully. I pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Reflect
In what specific ways has prayer served you well in times of crises?
Encourage others with your response to this week’s question HERE or in the Comments section below.