DRAWING NEAR
February 18
A Prayer for Godliness
"This I pray" (Phil. 1:9).
Your prayers reveal the level of your spiritual maturity.
As we come to our study of godliness in Philippians 1:9-11, we note
that this passage is a prayer. Typically, Paul's prayers reflected
his concern that his readers would mature spiritually. That is
impossible without prayer because spiritual growth depends on the
Holy Spirit's power, which is tapped through prayer.
Prayer is so vital that Jesus instructed His disciples to pray at all
times (Luke 18:1). Paul commands us to "pray without ceasing" (1
Thess. 5:17). Peter said we should be "of sound judgment and sober
spirit for the purpose of prayer" (1 Pet. 4:7).
Scripture gives many other commands to pray, but the true test of
your spirituality is your compulsion to pray, not simply your
obedience to commands. As a Christian you exist in a spiritual realm
in which prayer is as natural as breathing is in the natural realm.
Just as atmospheric pressure exerts force on your lungs, compelling
you to breathe, so your spiritual environment compels you to pray.
Resisting either brings devastating results.
The more you see life through God's eyes, the more you are driven to
pray. In that sense your prayers reveal the level of your spiritual
maturity. Paul prayed with urgency day and night because he shared
God's love for His people and His concern for their spiritual
maturity.
Examine your own prayers. Do you pray from a sense of duty or are you
compelled to pray? Do you pray infrequently or briefly? Do your
prayers center on your own needs or the needs of others? Do you pray
for the spiritual maturity of others? Those important questions
indicate the level of your spiritual maturity and give guidelines for
making any needed changes in your pattern of prayer.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Thank God for the privilege and power of prayer. If you have
neglected prayer or if your prayers have been centered on yourself
rather than others, confess your sin and ask God to give you a sense
of holy urgency in praying as you should. Is there someone for whom
you should be praying more consistently?
For Further Study:
Read Daniel 6:1-28.
What was Daniel's pattern of prayer? What accusation did the
political leaders bring against Daniel? What was the king's attitude
toward Daniel? How did God honor Daniel's faith?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Luke 18:1 (NKJV)
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and
not lose heart
Daniel 6:1-28
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty
satraps, to be over the whole kingdom;
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
5 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."
6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said
thus to him: "King Darius, live forever!
7 "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.
8 "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."
9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.
10 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.
11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making
supplication before his God.
12 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."
13 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."
14 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.
15 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."
16 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."
17 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.
18 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.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste
to the den of lions.
20 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?"
21 Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever!
22 "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."
23 Then 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.
24 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.
25 Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages
that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
26 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.
27 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.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign
of Cyrus the Persian.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
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In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
http://www.gty.org/Gospel/
http://www.nwbible.org/
To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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