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.
Have you ever had a hectic morning and forgot to pray before you left your home, or an evening when you were so tired that you fell asleep before you ended your day with prayer? I think we have all done that. On those days, I have thought what if I couldn’t pray. Would prayer mean more to me then? I wonder if because I can always pray, that it doesn’t seem that big of a deal if I skip just once. Prayer was so important to Daniel that he continued to pray even when his life was threatened for doing so. After the law was signed forbidding prayer, Daniel continued to pray as he always had done. Prayer was essential to his life. He prayed three times a day, on his knees, facing the temple, and giving thanks to God. I found it interesting that Daniel prayed facing the temple. As we pray towards the temple, we can be reminded of the things we should be doing in our lives to be found worthy to be in the House of the Lord. When President Wilford Woodruff dedicated the Salt Lake Temple he offered a specific prayer that people who had there committed their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and were now assailed with temptation or trouble but were unable to get to the temple to supplicate the Lord might face the temple as they prayed, and that the Lord would honor their prayers. We can’t see the temple from our windows as Daniel could, but we can have a picture of a temple in our bedrooms. As we look at it before we pray, we can dedicate our lives to the Lord and strive each day to be one who is worthy to enter the temple.
Love, Sister Linnell
1 comment:
Sister Linnell- I love how you brought up the point about taking advantage of the fact that we can pray. It is true that you don't realize how important something is until you can't have it anymore. As a young woman your goal should be making it to the temple to be married. Keeping that in mind every time you pray will help you attain that goal. Even as leaders remembering when we pray the covenants we made in the temple and remembering to live in a way that allows us to keep returning to the temple is very important. Prayer is one of the simplest things we can do but is something that can make the greatest impact in our lives!
Post a Comment