Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Daniel 6:10
Today the Devil said to God’s people, “I will determine when you will pray, and when you will not pray.” He didn’t say it out loud; oh no, he is far more cleaver than to that open about it. If had said it out loud, by government edict or by religious mandate, or by peer pressure, then we would have risen up like Daniel, called out for God to shut the mouths of lions and boldly declared ourselves in prayer.
But the Adversary knows that he does not need to be so brash to stop the intercessors, prayer warriors and defenders of the faith. All he has to do is WHISPER! He passes the decree in the throne room of the mind. All he has to do is to appeal to the king that is seated on YOUR throne – to test and see which king is truly there.
The Serpent is subtle, and it is crafty, and knows how to swallow its victim’s whole, right after biting them, injecting them, with mind numbing poison. He is no fool! But he plays the wise as fools. He finds those who are not in need of a physician and keeps them hooked on the most powerful emotional drugs in their pharmaceutical closet.
And the end result is: we don’t open the windows of our closet; we don’t turn our face to the sides of the North; we don’t face toward the heavenly ‘city of peace’; we don’t even consider the kneeling for one time a day.
Maybe we would prefer to have a Hitler chase us, an Antichrist stir us to cry out, an oppressor to stick and angry face in out face to force us to turn away and look UP to see the face of the Savior?
The Accuser of the brethren says before God: HOLD BACK YOUR POWER JUST A LITTLE LONGER. You will see! They will not seek your face in the Quiet time, because they do not SEE ME! Let me hit them directly; it is my right!
What does the God who lives in you reply, oh Saint?
31And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Luke 22:30-32
Original Copyright: © Anthony J. Massotti Th.M., Th.M. 8/14/2005