Worship in the Hard Times

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Daniel 6:10, “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” (NIV) In the above passage, Daniel and the Israelites were in captivity to Babylon. King Darius, in his humanistic egotism, had decreed that no one could pray to any god other than he. The order went across the entire nation. Anyone who prayed to any other god/God would be thrown into the lion's den. Daniel, King Darius' favorite advisor, had the lifestyle habit of praying to God 3 times a day. When Daniel heard the king's order, he knew if he continued this habit, he would be killed by lions. So, he did what only a true man of God could do-he went to his window and prayed. The Bible doesn't say that Daniel weighed the pros and cons. It doesn't say they he found a secret place to pray. It doesn't say that he stopped praying at of fear. It says, he went straight to his window and prayed. He praised God. He gave Him thanks. The same should be true of believers today. Even in the darkest hours of our lives: sickness, death of a loved one, financial strains, rejection, broken hearts... Whatever the pain, we must "go to our windows and pray". Even in the face of persecution, like Daniel, we must pray. Worship and gratitude is a game changer. It changes us from the inside out. It prepares us for God to do miracles in our lives. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! … And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4, 7 (NIV) We don't understand how God works. We don't understand why He chooses to allow some things to happen. But we can trust God. He is good and merciful. He demands our obedience and worship and he deserves it. Even if you don't feel like it, worship through it.