48. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. Real men pray, he does.

2 November 2020

Relief print of Daniel's prayer by Edward Poynter, 1865. Daniel 6 describes how Daniel prayed even though threatened with death.

Edward Poynter • Public domain

Real men pray.

Prayer, the mark of a follower of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 4:24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.”

This I wrote 18 August 2020.

“Prayer could be in secret; prayer and fasting are done in secret (Matthew 6:17-18). Fasting is not literally skipping meals but spending time with God with eagerness and fondness, reading the Bible, meditating on the word of God, at times unmindful of meals and the passing of time.

In today's passage, it is vocal group prayer of praises to God in the face of persecution, they were first century Christians being threatened with harm by the religious leaders.

“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” (v. 29)

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly (v. 31).

Lord, today if I am to be accused of being a Christian, will the judge find me guilty? Guilty being with the mark of a follower of the Lord Jesus, the mark that is being intentional in my prayer, and bold in speaking out the Word of God. Lord, I pray for Christians in countries where it is a crime to be a Christian. Their situation continues to be a reminder to me not to be complacent having all the freedom of being a Christian in our country. For these persecuted Christians, Lord, help me persevere in my prayer identifying with them in spirit. This I beseech in Jesus' name. Amen.”

There is power in prayer. I prayed and the Lord heard my prayer.

Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference. - Max Lucado

The Book of Daniel showcases a man of prayer.

Daniel's Answer to the King by Briton Rivière

Briton Rivière • Public domain

Darius (King of Persia) elevates Daniel to high office, exciting the jealousy of other officials. Knowing of Daniel's devotion to his God, his enemies trick the king into issuing an edict forbidding worship of any other god or man for a 30-day period. Daniel continues to pray three times a day to God towards Jerusalem; he is accused and King Darius, forced by his own decree, throws Daniel into the lions' den. But God shuts up the mouths of the lions, and the next morning Darius rejoices to find him unharmed. The king casts Daniel's accusers into the lions' pit together with their wives and children to be instantly devoured, while he himself acknowledges Daniel's God as he whose kingdom shall never be destroyed. (Wikipedia)

Daniel 6

Daniel in the Den of Lions

10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed.

19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 

20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 

22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

My children's children will someday say, wala ka sa Lolo ko, real men pray, he does pray. Amen.

May you be blessed.

Maraming salamat.