Continue in PrayerSpeaker: Dr. Paul Dhinakaran Gist: When Jesus is with us no evil can overcome us. Do not stop praying to God discouraged by friends or people around you. Amidst losses, trials, failures and needs, look up to God alone. When you read the 6th chapter in the book of Daniel, we see how king Darius recognized the exceptional wisdom that Daniel had. He desired to place him above the one hundred and twenty chieftains in the land. This caused jealousy among them all. They vowed to destroy Daniel somehow. But Daniel was honest to the King, to all the courtesians and to the people. They could not find any flaw in him, because he lived a clean and devoted life before God and man. They concluded, "We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God" (Daniel 6:5). So, they went and told King Darius, "Establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions". (Daniel 6:7).
Accordingly, King Darius signed the written decree which was announced all over his kingdom. Though Daniel heard of this decree said to himself, "I cannot remain without meeting my Lord. Come what may, I will not worship any god other than the Almighty God who made heaven and earth. He will never forsake me. He is the King of kings, Lord of lords. He will take charge of me. According to his usual practice, he went and prayed thrice everyday. This was reported to the king. He was much distressed; but he had no choice. He ordered his soldiers to throw Daniel into the lion's den. But God, sent His angel and shut the lion's mouth and saved him in a miraculous way.
My dear friend, when you pray regularly and seek God and dwell in His presence, He often permits problems, troubles or trials in your lives. Do you know why? Only then you can realise that through prayer we can receive the power to overcome them all. Only if there is war, we can win a victory and defeat our enemies.
When we read Matthew 4:1,2, we see that after Jesus fasted and prayed for forty days, the tempter came to Him. Did Jesus ask, "Lord, did not I fast and pray for forty days? Why then did You allow the devil to tempt me? No, because Jesus fasted and prayed for forty days, He had received the power with which He overcame Satan. God, in His grace, made Satan retreat in shame. Lord Jesus has said, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
Trials may come. Problems may arise. Because of that do not give up praying and reading the Bible. It is only when you continue to pray even in their midst, you can overcome all trials, problems and sufferings. Only then you can become more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). Daniel, defying the order not to pray, continued praying three times everyday. That is why when he was thrown into the lion's den. God came down there and shut the lion's mouth.
My dear friend, when we pray to this wonderful and mighty God, He himself comes down in our midst. All the adverse forces that confronts us and Satan who brings the deadliest diseases takes to his heels. When Jesus is with us, no trials or tribulations can ever overcome us. So do not stop praying to God discouraged by friends or people around you. Give up the habit of grumbling against God. Amidst losses, trials, failures and needs, look up to God alone. Pour out your hearts to God. He will grant you success and honour.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
Strengthen me in my prayer life. When I am confronted by failures, trials and sufferings, let me not give up faith and my daily prayer and devotions. Help me to read the Bible, meditate and to pray daily without fail. Help me to be steadfast in my faith like Daniel and to overcome all difficulties. In Jesus' mighty name, I pray.
Amen. |