Devoted like Daniel - Prayer (Kneeling when others are standing)

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Main idea: Prayer is a lifestyle not a last resort.

Main Points:

1 Private discipline leads to public deliverance.

2 Prayer posistions us to stand when the pressure is on.

3 Consitstency in prayer builds unshakable faith.

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Intro:

Recap of the past weeks:

Wk1 - Integrity (Living a life set a part for God) (Daniel 1)

Wk2 - Worship (Living a life fully surrendered) (Daniel 3)

And today we will be discussing Devoted like Daniel - Prayer - Living a life of kneeling when others are standing.

I would like to pose you with a question…

Why should we pray?

Why should we pray if God knows our health condition, why should we pray if He knows our financial status or the addiction we are facing. Why should we pray if God can see the arguments, why should we pray if God can see what we struggle and wrestle with when we are alone…

Why should Followers and Believers of Jesus Christ pray, if God knows all…

Why did Paul write in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray without ceasing,”

What makes prayer so important!!

Prayer creates a Connection with God.

James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…”

God knows our hearts, He knows our struggles, He knows what we are going through and He knows what we are going to be going through. But God already took the first step, He gave us Jesus. Now we should take a step closer to God, and maybe your next step is one on your knees, kneeling in prayer before Him.

God cannot do everything, we must also contribute. We should also dilligently seek Him. And that happens in prayer.

Prayer is an expression of Faith.

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

I honestly think Prayer is one of the most important aspects of our faith as Christians. The reason I come to that conculsion is because this is what Jesus showed, what He was an example of.

Jesus preached great sermons, and His life was filled with great parrables, amazing miracles, prophecies, deliverance and ultimately sacrifice.

He had 12 disciples following Him, and He never taught them to preach. No…He taught them how to pray.

Matthew 6:5–13 NKJV

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Why? What makes prayer so powerfull?

Stats:

73% of Christians who pray regularly report greater peace of mind and reduced anxiety. (Barna, 2023)

63% of Christians say their biggest breakthroughs (healing, provision, restored relationships) came after specific prayer seasons. (Lifeway Research)

Columbia University (2001). Women undergoing fertility treatment who were prayed for by strangers (in a blind study) were twice as likely to conceive as those not prayed for. The study was double-blind, meaning neither the women nor doctors knew who was being prayed for.

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Forgiveness prayers (praying for those who hurt you) reduced anger, stress, and chronic pain in test groups over 6 weeks.

“Medical studies show prayer can lower stress, regulate your heart, and boost your immunity.”

1. Prayer Improves Marital Satisfaction

Couples who pray together report a 30% higher satisfaction in their relationship than those who don’t. (National Marriage Project, University of Virginia)

93% of couples who pray together daily say they feel more emotionally connected and united. (FamilyLife Ministries, 2022)

"Praying together is more powerful than talking about your problems. When you bring God into the conversation, you both change."

2. Health Outcomes & Healing

In a study of 1,000 cardiac patients, those who were prayed for had fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and higher survival rates. (The Mayo Clinic, 2002)

Regular prayer is associated with:

40% lower risk of high blood pressure

23% lower risk of heart disease

Improved recovery rates from surgeries (American Heart Journal; Duke University Medical Center)

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But the problem we face in today’s day and age is that prayer has become our last resort.

If those pills or treatments didn’t work, then we will kneel before God. And still blame Him if things doesn’t go according to OUR planning.

If seeing that psychologist, doesn’t work. Then we’ll try to ask God.

And then we start to try and “manipulate” God, by using scripture in our favor. You see we say the right things in the right seasons but with the wrong hearts. We make prayer about us, but prayer is ultimately about God. And HIS role in our lives.

CHAT GPT Example…

We’ve become reactive christians but we should mature into pro-active Christians!

Daniel, was an amazing example of how to live a life of pro-activity and not reactivity.

You can open in Daniel 6:1-28

Daniel 6:1–28 NKJV

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to 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. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. 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. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God. And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den. Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.