3 times a day

 3 times a day

 

Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

 

Quick context for this verse for those not familiar.  Men who were jealous of Daniel and his position in the kingdom had tricked king Darius into making a law that for thirty days people could only pray to the king or else be thrown into the lion’s den.  

 

Key points from this verse.  Regardless of the law Daniel stayed devoted to the Lord.  Daniel didn’t start praying 3 times a day because of this law.  This was his custom since his early days.  He prayed 3 times a day in obedience to God’s Word.  Psalm 55:17 “Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.” (this would have been the 9^th, 3^rd and 6^th hours of the day or 3pm, 12pm, 9am).  It is also significant the Daniel, who had been a very busy man since his captivity as a youth, had made a custom since his youth to make the time to come away and pray 3 times a day.  Being busy is not an excuse.  Isn’t it true that we make time for those things that are really, really important to us?

He prayed toward Jerusalem also in obedience to scripture, (Read 1 Kings 8:41-53.). “And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem”, let us not misunderstand this section.  His windows were already opened.  He just didn’t open them to pray or to draw attention to his praying but also, he wasn’t going to hide in fear of being seen. Again, this was his well-established custom that he had been doing for decades at this point.  He was not going to change just because the law had changed. Notice also that he prayed AND gave thanks before God.  In this time Daniel didn’t cease to give the Lord praise. 

 

To sum up the important lessons of Daniel 6:10.

Live the Word of God

We are never too busy to pray and give thanks to the Lord.

It is important for us to set a custom to pray and give thanks to the Lord daily, before trouble hits. Don’t wait till times get rough.

Prayer and praise should be something we do throughout the day.  (Actually, as New Testament believers we should not be just doing it 3 times a day but always without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.)