When Daniel knew that the document had been signed (for his arrest),
he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God. Daniel 6:10
Heavenly Father, we are so drawn to the heart that beat in Daniel’s breast—a heart filled with love for you and rest in you—irrespective of the threatening circumstances. He just learned of a decree that anybody praying to any other god or man, but King Darius, would become lion’s lunch.
So what did he do? The same thing he’d been doing decades in Babylon. The windows were open, his knees bent, his gaze set, and his heart full. He was neither paranoid nor presumptuous, but he was most definitely at peace.
What freedom, intimacy, and joy—your aging son enjoyed with you. By riches of grace and power of the Spirit, do and renew this same work in our lives. Many of us remember when, as new believers, we enjoyed Spirit-joy, Gospel-freedom, and fear-free faith. Perhaps we were naïve, but we were yours.
Father, you never commanded Daniel to get on his knees three times a day. You didn’t have to—it was his delight. No government decree could keep him from praying to you, loving you, seeking you, enjoying you. He was much more committed to your eternal glory than his personal story. His life could be taken from him; but Daniel couldn’t be taken from you, just to you.
No matter how long COVID lingers, no matter how many fear-fueling things come our way, no matter what threatening news we get… free us to worship and serve you, more than we worry and cling to this life. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ near and dear name.