I was greatly encouraged from our gospel meeting with Jeff Wilson. I hope you were as well. I’ve been trying my best to really examine my heart with what we were taught from God’s word. It can be easy to wrap up a gospel meeting, say goodbye to the visiting preacher, and then quickly forget what was taught.
As disciples, we must be hearers and doers of God’s word. In Ezekiel 34:30-32, the people went to hear the message of Ezekiel, but they failed to follow through and live what they heard.
“But as for you, son of man, your fellow citizens who talk about you by the walls and in the doorways of the houses, speak to one another, each to his brother, saying, ‘Come now and hear what the message is which comes forth from the LORD. They come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain. Behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words but they do not practice them.”
Let’s be hearers and doers of God’s word! There is a lot to digest from the book of Daniel. One thought I want us to consider is creating Godly habits in Babylon. As Jeff said, “It’s Always Babylon.” One thing that stood out to me were the prayer habits of Daniel and his friends. Their view of prayer was not something to turn to only when times got tough. At an old age, Daniel continued to pray. He could endure Babylon, the challenges, and different rulers because of his faith in God. His faith was demonstrated in the fact that he continued to pray, Daniel 6:10, “Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.”
Notice what the text says concerning Daniel: “As he had been doing previously.” Is consistent prayer something we’ve been doing and have done in the past? If we’re not satisfied with our answer, the good news is we can change! Don’t wait until something “Suddenly Happens.” To create this godly habit, we must first begin. We must recognize the importance of the habit itself. The Hebrew writer reminds us of why prayer should be a priority for us, Hebrews 4:14-16. Next, we must carve out the necessary time to pray. One way to foster this godly habit it is to create specified times throughout the day when you will pray. Daniel was able to remain faithful even in Babylon! We can too! We serve the same God. Let’s consistently turn to Him in prayer.