Spending some extended time in Daniel, one of my favorite books because it’s absolutely loaded with stories and examples of God doing excellent things! Miracles and midnight rescues are scattered throughout. It’s a page-turner!
I also appreciate this book because of the model Daniel’s life provides for me as an individual seeking God and for me as a mother seeking to disciple her children. When Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar conquered Israel he snatched up the best of the best to be his very own slaves. In the last blog, I encouraged us to use the description of Daniel and his buddies (see below) as powerful prayer material as we intercede for children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
“Young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning well-informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace . . . ” Daniel 1:4
In today’s vernacular, Daniel was all that and a bag of chips! He was the whole package. What’s amazing is that Daniel maintained this rock-solid character and his courage during desperate times resolving to do this, most scholars believe, as a teenager in a hyper-pagan, flesh-pleasing environment separated from parental and other home-town authorities (in other words, in a “who’s-gonna-know, who’s-gonna-care” setting).
Fast forward to Daniel chapter 6 verse 10 and you’ll understand a bit more about how Daniel was able to stand firm.
“. . . he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously . . .” (emphasis mine)
He had a habit: prayer. Three times a day, without fail, Daniel dropped to his knees to worship his God, the One True God. The foreign King changed his name (in honor of an idol), tried to change his diet, and set in motion a thorough indoctrination of Daniel’s mind, but Daniel kept his way pure by living according to God’s word (Psalm 119:9). From a bowed low position, Daniel kept his ears and his heart in tune with what Almighty God had to say.
I love it when young people seek God with a whole heart! I love it when they maintain, not because they have to but because they want to and know they need to, regular times of prayer and Bible reading and study. I love it when they stand counter-culture and live loud for the Kingdom of God! Pray for the teens you know, the college students, and young married couples to follow Daniel’s example and develop the habit of relying on God in prayer.
Trusting God this week in our own times of prayer with my CT scan this Friday, September 13th. Expecting God to demonstrate His favor for high tolerance as I go in to drink the sugary contrast liquid and get the IV solution. Daniel was facing the lion’s den when he continued to pray and give thanks. Thank you for continuing to do the same – pray and give thanks – on our behalf!
Kristen:
My mom, Shirley Long, is in Louisville this week and would love to catch up with you. If you will email me back, I can give you her number.
Sharon, What a nice surprise to hear from you. Hope you are doing well. Let me know how to get in touch with your mom and I’ll give her a call. (Just reply here and I won’t post the comment.)
Blessings, Kristen
So heart warming and good to hear your thoughts and tugs of encouragement to keep praying and to stay tuned in to our “Big Daddy’s Blog”. ❤❤❤ you and yours and thank Him for lovin’ you more. Praying and trusting and always remembering you in my prayers. (September 13th especially focused on high tolerance and favor from above
We are praying like crazy with you and for you Kristen! Trusting in our great God to give you strength and display his glory. Praising him for who he is and how beautifully he loves us. You are on my mind all the time, and God continues to use all kinds of creative ways to remind me to stay steady in prayer. 🙂 We are thankful for your wisdom and example…you are so loved and lifted up by the Russell’s!!!
Hi Kristen! We are praying for you, specifically for your upcoming scan. We have alerted prayer warriors we know to pray, too. We are praying for good sleep for you, too. I keep asking that you will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.