Don't be foolish...
But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed (the law saying the people could only pray and bow down to the king), he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God (Daniel 6:10). Sometimes we need a reminder about the importance of prayer. Just how diligent are you when it comes to prayer? If I'm honest, not diligent enough! I mean to pray. I have long prayer lists. I have lots of people to pray for and lots to pray about. Yet, if I'm not careful, prayer always gets a back seat to my Bible reading.
Now trust me...I'm aware of this flawed pattern and I take daily steps - although imperfect steps - to rectify my foolishness. 'Why call it foolishness' you might say? Because prayer and Bible readying go hand in hand and to do one without the other is...foolishness. Reading the Bible is pointless if it's not activated and illuminated by prayer. And prayer is dangerous if it's not grounded in God's Word.
Consider just a few of the many benefits of prayer:
- Genesis 20:17 - Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so they could have children.
- Philippians 1:19 - (Paul speaking) For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.
- Job 42:10 - When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!
- Ezra 8:21,23c - And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled. And He heard our prayer.
- Jonah 2:1,10 - Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. [And] the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.
- Acts 7:59 - As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
- And so on, and so on, and so on.