This is actually the 72nd installment. Some of these were just verses, but quite a few turned into studies like this one. Some studies were more detailed, some less. If you follow my prayer group, The Inner Circle, on Facebook, all of these studies are posted there, as well as on this site.
Daniel 6:10
When Daniel learned that the document had been signed,
he went into his house.
The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem,
and three times a day he got down on his knees,
prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
'Just as he had done before'. Talking with God wasn't a new thing for Daniel. He didn't wait until times got hard or impossible before he knelt in prayer. Spending time speaking with His God was more than a good habit he kept, more than mere self-discipline. Praying to, and thanking, His God was a joy; for he did this three times a day. He enjoyed spending time with His God. What better use of our time is there?
And, note also, that Daniel prayed in the upper room of his house, facing the window that looked west to Jerusalem. (For me to pray in the direction of Jerusalem I would have to look east, for I am west of Jerusalem, the city of God.) Here in this place Daniel always prayed. And the people where he lived knew it.
No bells rang out. No one called him to prayer. No one complained about the noise emanating from his windows, for Daniel was not loud. There is no need to shout to God when He is as close as a whisper.
If your prayer life is not what it should be, it's not too late to begin being a faithful, faith-filled, prayer warrior. For that is what Daniel was: a prayer warrior. He fought his battles on his knees. He sought out communion with his God and he gave God thanksgiving. He cared not that the law of the land forbade him to pray to his God. Nothing should interfere with our time with God, not even manmade laws.
We do not pray defiantly. We want to hear our God speak to us and God wants to hear us speak to Him. Because of Christ in us, we can approach God with humble hearts, knowing that it is only because Christ died for us and rose again to bring us into new life in Him, that God will hear our prayers.
The Christian speaks to God in love, in sincerity, in truth. For nothing is hid from God, so it is better to be honest about it (Acts 5:1-11).
By this time, Daniel was serving a third Babylonian king, King Darius. No longer a young man, yet still kneeling before his God. Having interpreted dreams for various kings, he now was being given dreams from God that God would interpret for him.
In his lifetime Daniel was faithful in pursuing a dedicated, strong relationship with his God. Would that we are so faithful in joyful obedience in our prayer relations with our God! Let us, even now, kneel before our God and commune as friend with Friend.
FOREVER -Chris Tomlin
