Written by Michael J. Martinez
Guiding Light Praying Ministry.
www.glprayingministry.com

?He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him? (Daniel 2:22).

?But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God?s righteous judgment will be revealed? (Romans 2:5). Be renewed and restored and do not hold on to the past, do not worship any other god beside the God of the bible. Do not be bitter or anger but be with peace, the peace only Jesus can give.

Are people praying today out of self-seeking motivation, and whom are they praying to? Are people not praying as a believer because it may not be politically correct and maybe it is an embarrassing thing to do? Do you become ashamed in front of people to pray?

A good example of praying regardless of the law or decree in the Bible is Daniel (the chief of the eunuchs gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar). Daniel was chosen as a young man along with three other young men and God gave them favor and wisdom. He gave Daniel understanding in all visions and dreams. Daniel served as a servant under Jehoiakim king of Judah at that time and Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus. Then Daniel served under King Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel found favor with this king because the king was having troubling dreams and none of his magicians, sorcerers, enchanters or Chaldeans could interpret the dream (Daniel 2:1). When Daniel interpreted the kings dream he was given high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon (Daniel 2:47).

Well, before interpreting the kings dream Daniel sought the Lord in prayer for this wisdom because all the wise men where being killed for their lack of not being able to interpret the kings dreams. Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His? (Daniel 2:29, 20). In the midst of almost being killed, Daniel and his other companions prayed first instead of trying other methods. They did not become politically correct but turned to their God for the answers to help this king and save the lives of not just theirs but others as well. God gave them answers and the wisdom and afterward they did not forget who gave it to them. "I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, And have now made known to me what we asked of You, For You have made known to us the king's demand? (Daniel 2:23).

Did prayer seem like nonsense to Daniel? Certainly not! Moreover, because of his faith in knowing that God could help him the answers where revealed to him. The Lord revealed the secret things of King Nebuchadnezzar to Daniel. God says He knows what is in the darkness, the evil that surrounds us every single day. The only way that we can be protected from it is not by trusting the world and worrying about if we will be seen, heard, or politically correct, but by praying to Jesus because light dwells with Him. The only way to fight against the world and not be ashamed of the Gospel is to pray for the answers, for the Lord?s wisdom.

There were some officials who did not like Daniel because of all the favor he had from God and because since a young age Daniel never wanted to defile himself and did not want to sin against God. What a testimony to live as a young man to an adult man, for us to read and take example for today. Humbling ourselves is also not very politically correct or even correct as a man/woman and our pride holds us back.
In Daniel chapter 3 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not bow down to the kings golden image he erected. They were thrown into a fiery furnace for their faith to be burnt alive, but God protected them, He sent an angel, and the fire did not harm a hair on their heads. Because these three men did not waiver or fall to a political decree but stood in their faith for God and did not bow down to this image; God delivered them and a decree was made. ?Any people, nation or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way? (Daniel 3:29).

If you are a Christian, you must stand up for Jesus Christ because He is able to rescue you, speak for you, and deliver you from the enemy, be not afraid.
Well, king Nebuchadnezzer praised God, extolled and honored the King of heaven (Daniel 4:34-37) and was transformed, after he faced being driven out of his kingdom and faced hard trials until he knew that the Most High (The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will.
His son Belshazzar became king and resurrected the gods back that his father took down. Again, Daniel interpreted handwriting on the wall that was written by God?s finger and he was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and he was made a third ruler in the kingdom. That very night Belshazzar was killed and Darius was king and made Daniel one out of three, a president (Daniel 5:30; 6:1-3). The verses say that Daniel was with spirit, he was filled with the Holy Spirit just as you and I are when we are born again and walk with Jesus, standing up for Him, unwavering in our faith and the word of God.

To finish the example of not being politically correct in following Jesus we see the trials, and tribulations Daniel went through because he didn?t wavier in his faith for God. It was when the other president?s where jealous of Daniel for being esteemed higher than them that they planned to set up Daniel (Daniel 6:4). Therefore, they had Darius sign a decree that no one should worship any god or man for thirty days or be guilty and thrown into the lions den. At that time Daniel got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God (our God), as he had done previously (Daniel 6:10).

Daniel was thrown into the lions den but was sent an angel and was protected from the lions. Then king Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: ?Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for He is the living God, enduring forever; His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and His dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, He who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions? (Daniel 6:25-27)

God bless you all.

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Published on: 2005-07-07 (2228 reads)