Persistent Prayer

   He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. – Daniel 6:10

As society has become increasingly hostile toward Christians, tolerance toward the Christian faith by legislators, administrators, and judges has also declined. It is not that different from the times in which Daniel lived, although his circumstances were different. The culture in which he lived was foreign and openly antagonistic toward people of faith. His enemies used the legal system to attack him personally. They were not content to hurt or harm him – they wanted to destroy him. He faced pressure to compromise. How did he handle this? Without apology, Daniel practiced his faith openly. He ultimately provided a witness to the faithfulness of God. He continued in his devotion to the Lord, thanking Him in all circumstances. And God honored him. 

In the first-century Christian church, Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna. He was a godly man who had known the apostle John personally. The Roman culture around him was antagonistic, and the proconsul instructed him to renounce Christ. Records say that Polycarp replied, “Eighty-six years have I served Him and He never did me any injury. How can I then blaspheme my King and Savior?” His fate was different from Daniel’s. He was burned at the stake and yet gave joyful testimony of his faith in the Savior. 

Both of these heroes of the faith remained true to the Lord—no matter what! Both were thankful to the Lord for His provision. Both were persistent in prayer, strengthened by the time they spent with their God! Psalm 34:1 says, “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Make persistent prayer your testimony today. Pray for Christians in federal, state, and local seats of government to remain faithful in their witness for the Savior.