CONSISTENCY. Daniel 6:5-16.

Posted bySteven WalesPosted inLoyalty/Faithfulness/IntegrityTags:, , , , , ,

What do you do consistently? Do you run every day? Eat potato chips every day? Pray every day? People notice the things you do consistently.

Three kings rewarded Daniel for his consistency.

When others became jealous, they hatched a plan that would land Daniel in a pit filled with starving lions. They wanted to trap Daniel, but the usual ways to trap a man would not work. They knew they could not lure him into adultery, or convince him to embezzle funds, or to overstep his authority. So they looked at Daniel’s life for something predictable. What did they find? That he would obey God—THAT was predictable.

“We will never be able to charge Daniel with a crime unless it is a crime based on obeying the law of his God.” Daniel 6:5.

Daniel was consistent. So they flattered king Darius (he was easy to trap) and an irrevocable law was passed outlawing prayer. Daniel ignored it:

“THREE TIMES A DAY he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to God, JUST AS HE HAD DONE BEFORE” Daniel 6:10.

Soon he was arrested and the king was furious–not with Daniel but with his own advisers. The king knew he had been tricked into passing the irrevocable law. But the king honored the law. (How’s that for consistency?) But he also prayed and fasted all night long, hoping God would spare Daniel:

“May your God, whom you serve consistently rescue you.” Daniel 6:16.

God saved Daniel and the king threw the bad men in the pit, along with their wives and children, and they were eaten before they could reach the ground. And King Darius made a new law:

“In all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel, For He is the living God, and He endures forever… He rescues and delivers… for He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions” Daniel 6:26-27.

Do we pray enough? Daniel stopped what he was doing three times a day—even when doing so put his life at risk. Muslims stop for prayer five times a day. How often do we stop everything and talk to the God who saved us? God loves to spend time with you. Be consistent and persistent about talking to Him.

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P.S. The picture above is a colorized version of Eric Enstrom’s famous photograph, “Grace” circa 1920.

Published by Steven Wales

Dad's Daily Devotional began as text messages to my family. I wanted my teenagers to know their father was reading the Bible. But they were at school by then. Initially, I sent them a favorite verse or an insight based on what I read each day. That grew into drafting a devotional readng which I would send them via text. I work as an attorney and an adjunct professor, and recently wrote a book called HOW TO MAKE A'S.

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