Greg Laurie Daily Devotion - May 3, 2010

Monday, May 3, 2010

Praying Continually

Never stop praying. 
—1 Thessalonians 5:17

If a law were passed tomorrow that prohibited praying in public, would you still pray? That is the dilemma the prophet Daniel faced. He was a godly man with a reputation for being a person of prayer.

It turns out that Daniel was so effective and successful at what he did that his enemies hated him. They wanted to bring him down. The problem, in their eyes at least, was that Daniel had no weak spots. He was a man of complete integrity. But one thing they knew about Daniel was that he was always praying. Three times every day, he would go into his house, open his windows, kneel down, and pray.

So his enemies went to the king and convinced him to sign a decree that would condemn to death any person who prayed to any god except him. Daniel was made aware of the decree. So what did Daniel do? 

But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, 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)

The new decree didn't cause Daniel to change his habits at all. He still prayed. But notice what Daniel prayed for. We don't read of him praying for God's deliverance, but we do read that Daniel prayed, "giving thanks to his God." Daniel was aware that God was on the throne, that God was in control of his life, and that God was good. So he gave thanks to God.

Wherever you go, God is with you. And you can commune with Him and fellowship with Him and pray to Him and hear from Him. That is the idea of praying continually.

Copyright © 2010 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved. 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

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