(Read Daniel 6:10)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. Today we will go back to the same verse we looked at yesterday, but we will focus on something different.
The Bible says, “Daniel always prayed to God three times every day. Three times every day, he bowed down on his knees to pray and praise God. Even though Daniel heard about the new law, he still went to his house to pray. He went up to the upper room of his house and opened the windows that faced toward Jerusalem. Then Daniel bowed down on his knees and prayed just as he always had done.”
So what does this mean to you today? Two main things.
1. God’s grace can empower you to live with fearless confidence in God.
a) Daniel was not phased by the new law. He understood the law clearly, but he put God above King Darius. Your honor for God must be greater than your fear of men.
b) The same God who brought you there can keep you there. Since Daniel’s success had come by praying three times a day, he was not about to STOP praying just because a law was signed prohibiting him to do so. He maintained his confidence in God and he believed that the same who had brought him to that point, would protect him from King Darius and the lion’s den.
c) Daniel kept his vow to the Lord. Daniel prayed to his God three times a day, because that’s what he vowed to do, even if it meant he would be thrown into the lion’s den. Don’t allow external pressure to keep you from fulfilling your vow to the Lord.
d) God’s power is greater than satan’s attacks. We will see that Daniel was ultimately thrown into the lion’s den, but the same God he was honoring with his stand, honored his faith and protected him from the lions. We serve a God who can give lion’s lockjaw.
e) Your confidence must be in God. If your confidence is in you, it will be limited and possibly shaky. But if your confidence is in God it can be fearless, because God is immutable, His grace is immeasurable, and His power is unstoppable.
2. God’s grace can empower you to be faithful towards Him.
a) Daniel prayed every day. Prayer was the key to his success. Daniel spent time before God and with God on a daily basis. The Lord knew He could count on Daniel. Even after the king signed the decree, Daniel was faithful to his routine. He prayed to the Lord his God just as he always had!
b) Daniel was a faithful man. Solomon said, “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” (Prov 20:6 KJV). Finding someone who promises and performs on a routine basis – day after day, month after month, year after year – is hard. Solomon was looking for leaders who would consistently and faithfully perform for the long haul. Guess what? God is looking for the same thing.
c) God’s grace has empowered me to be faithful. I am by no means a perfect man, but I can claim to be steady and faithful. Let’s use Today’s Word as an example. Back in 1997 the Lord told me to get up every morning and write a devotional. I vowed to God that I would and that I would continue to do it until He told me to stop. Well, here we are 18 years later and I am still going. I can honestly report that I have never missed a day that the Lord did not clear me from. For these past 18 years I have risen every workday and reported for God’s duty before reporting for my military duties. I get up, pray, get in front of the computer, and type whatever the Father tells me to type. I have done this regardless of the location (Bosnia, Germany, Kuwait, Iraq, etc.), the time I need to be at work (sometimes very early in the morning), and even while on vacation. Why? Because I made a vow to the Lord and God has graced me to be faithful to it.
d) James said, “Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You’ve heard, of course, of Job’s staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That’s because God cares, cares right down to the last detail.” (James 5:10,11 MSG). Are YOU staying the course, day after day, month after month, and year after year? Solomon asked, “A faithful man, who can find?” Today you should say, “Here I am Lord, look no further! I am both faithful and fearless!”
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. You grace me to live by faith. Faith is all about confidence. I live my life with confidence, but not confidence in me. I live my life with confidence in You. Since my confidence is firmly rooted and grounded in You, it can be fearless, because there is nothing You can’t do. You have all power, You know all things, and You are everywhere at the same time. You are my God, my Lord, my rock, and my redeemer! I worship You every day of my life and I have fearless confidence because of You and Your commitment towards me. And it is my understanding of Your grace that keeps me faithful. Your grace empowers me to ‘show up’ every day to report for duty. I am Your child 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. I never take a break from being Your child and I represent You everywhere I go. I am faithful, because Your grace is ON me, IN me, WITH me and FOR me. You equip, enable and empower me, so You can then employ me in Your kingdom. By Your grace I shall remain faithful all the days of my life. There is no retirement plan for the believer. I will be faithful to You and to Your plan for my life until the day I die. And I refuse to die with my purpose still IN me. I am committed to dying empty. I WILL arrive at Your ultimate destination for my life; and I will get there by being faithful EVERY day, in EVERY way. I am fearless and faithful! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
