FAITH CAPSULE: Prayer is the rod of navigating the wicked world.
Daniel 6
It is written, “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days” (Daniel 6:10). Daniel’s custom since early days must have been dated far back to or before the Bible testifies of Daniel stating, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself…” (Daniel 1:8) Daniel is a man of purposeful heart for God. It takes a man with heart that is purposed for God to have a customized prayer life style before God.
Why not engage the lifestyle of one that makes prayer a custom? Truly, “whatever things were written before was written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope (Romans 15:4).
To be prayerful is to be watchful. Praying and watching cannot be separated. One that is watchful is constantly awake. Once, His disciples slept off at prayer session and He responded, “…What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” (Matthew 26:40-41) Going by the word of God, it is the combination of watching and praying that delivers from temptation. It is possible to sleep spiritually or physically and not engage effective prayer. Sleeping in place of praying will is an avenue for a believer not to prevail in the face of world’s challenge.
Watching and praying is engaging fasting and praying. When Jesus’ disciples failed to deliver a boy with epileptic, the father approached Jesus for deliverance. After having delivered the boy with epileptic, the disciples asked Jesus about the reason why they could not deliver the boy. Jesus answered, “…Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:20-21) Watching and praying is driven by fasting to deliver undeniable breakthrough miracle. Praying and fasting is not a choice it is a must for every acclaimed believer to adopt as a way of living life. If fasting and praying are engagement of choice, Jesus would not have stated, “…and when you pray… (Matthew 6:5) “…when you fast…” (Matthew 6:16) Engaging prayer and fasting is not a conditional request that states “If” you fast. Jesus says when you fast, when you pray. Live by the word of His command and be a commander of your world. Without doubt, for every sincere believer, prayer is the rod of navigating the wicked world.
Prayer for today: Ask for the grace of strength on the prayer altar.