HOW’S YOUR PRAYER LIFE?

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God:  that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him.”  (1 John 5:14-15, NIV)

Several days ago, I went to our local plant store to purchase another hummingbird (“hummer”) feeder.  I was disappointed that we have not seen more hummers this year.  Last year, we had two playful hummers frequently drink the nectar from our feeder, but this year none had appeared.  I also began to fervently pray that God would send more hummers to our feeders so that we could enjoy watching them.  In the last week, we’ve seen more hummers visit our feeders than we’ve seen all summer! 

Someone in Scripture who had an exemplary prayer life was the prophet Daniel.  In the year 605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem and besieged it (Daniel 1:1).  He requested the master of the eunuchs to bring him young Israelite men who were without blemish, good-looking, and who possessed other admirable qualities.  Daniel was one of the chosen young men and became an important official in the kingdom.

In 539 B.C., the Persians defeated Babylon and Darius became king.  The other officials were jealous of Daniel and urged the king to sign a decree stating that whoever prayed to anyone except the king for thirty days would be cast into the lions’ den (Dan. 6:7-8).  Knowing the decree was signed, Daniel went home and prayed, which was his custom since his early days (Dan. 6:10).  Daniel was cast into the lion’s den for disobeying the king’s decree, but God preserved his life and shut the mouths of the lions (Dan. 6:21).

How’s your prayer life?  Is prayer a daily discipline for you as it was for Daniel?  Because of Daniel’s integrity and faithful obedience during the reign of a heathen nation and at the risk of his own life, God richly blessed him.  Big or small, God delights in answering His children’s prayers.  Take time to pray to God today!  Oops, here comes my little hummer!

Dear Jesus:  Thank you for the privilege and power of prayer!