September 8 - Daniel 6:1-28, Daniel 9:1-27, 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Ezra 1:1-11, 1 Chronicles 3:17-19

Good morning everyone, 

Today we began with the story of Daniel and the den of lions. You’re familiar with the story, right? Darius appointed Daniel to be one of 120 governors to rule throughout the kingdom and because he was exceptional at his position the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. That did not bode well with the other 119 governors and so they went about setting a trap for Daniel, convincing the king into signing decree stating  no one for 30 days could worship anyone other than the king. Of course Daniel stayed true to God and as a result was seized then thrown into the den of lions where God sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions allowing him to be safely lifted from the pit the following morning. 

It is my prayer that if ever you or if I ever face such persecution, such ultimatums, that we would remember to call on the strength of God to see us through. That we would have the conviction, the confidence and the faith to be true to our God. Amen?

In chapter 9 we see that Daniel had been reading the Scriptures God had given Jeremiah to write and after doing the math realized they were coming up on the end of the seventy year period of captivity. So, were told in verse 3, that Daniel turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. Prayer is probably our most power weapon or tool here on earth and yet it is often the last resort. 

No one ever prays alone. When you pray to God there is a multitude of  prayer warrior angels, praying with you. They are there echoing and enhancing your prayer, interceding on your behalf and imploring God to grant your prayer. What’s even better than that is that Jesus tells us that “Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Nothing is too trivial … or too big to pray for. Sometimes, we get overwhelmed by a situation such as a war or a natural disaster and feel we can do nothing to help but we need to know that we can. We can pray. Or sometimes we feel like our prayer list is just too big, too unmanageable so we don’t pray at all. I would encourage you to keep that list with you and through the day while your are working, driving, exercising and send up arrow prayers for those needs. Our prayers do not have to be long and wordy they just have to be from the heart and prayed. I honestly believe that I am where I am today as a result of someone’s, maybe many someone’s, prayers, and I am sure you are too. Think about it. I think we can all look forward to meeting and thanking those someones when I get to heaven. Amen?

Have a great day and to God be the glory.

God bless you all …..