A Prayer for Serving by Faith, not Surviving by Fear

September 22, 2011

 A Prayer for Serving by Faith, not Surviving by Fear
     When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and pleas before his God. Daniel 6:10–11
     Heavenly Father, I am so drawn to the heart which beat in Daniel’s breast—a heart filled with praise for you, not fear for himself. He just learned of a decree that anybody praying to any other god or man but King Darius would become lions’ lunch. So what did he do? The same thing he’d been doing for decades in Babylon. The windows were open, his knees were bent, his gaze was set, and even before he asked you for help, he offered you thanks. He was neither paranoid nor presumptuous, but he was most definitely at peace.
     What freedom, what beauty, what intimacy your aging son and servant enjoyed. But why am I surprised? Haven’t you promised, “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green”? (Psalm 92:12–14)
     Father, you never commanded Daniel to get on his knees three times a day. You didn’t have to—it was his delight. No government decree could keep him from praying to you, loving you, seeking you or worshiping you. He was much, much more committed to your eternal glory than his mere personal survival.
     How much more should this kind of peace and praise mark our lives—no matter what spiritual warfare looks like in our day; no matter how intense the clash between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of God gets. For even as our adversary—the devil, “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8), he’s a defeated lion and defanged foe. For your Son, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed!” (Rev. 5:5) Jesus is the only Lion who is worthy of our full attention and utter preoccupation. O what peace, joy, confidence and boldness the gospel gives us!
     Father, as we get older, please keep us fresh, green and fruitful. There’s really no such thing as retirement in your kingdom. Spiritual shuffleboard isn’t in our future. A fritter is something to eat, not something to do with the rest of our lives. Fill our hearts with your glory, grace and Spirit; fill our gaze with a vision of your redeemed people and your restored creation; fill our hands with the basin and towel of servants. Use us, however you choose, all the remaining days you’ve numbered for us. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ magnificent and merciful name.
 
Scotty Smith
Pastor for Preaching
Christ Community Church
1215 Hillsboro Rd.
Franklin, TN  37069
615-468-2230
 
It’s good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace Hebrews 13:9
 

Filed under: Prayer