Daniel 6:10 And when he had learned that the document was signed, Daniel went to his house. And his windows were open in his roof room toward Jerusalem; and he kneeled on his knees three times a day and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before.
Let us take a moment to reflect on the life of Daniel. He was far from an ordinary man simply trying to manage the routine challenges of daily life. Rather, Daniel served in some of the most powerful empires of his time—Babylon and Persia—holding positions of immense influence and authority. He was entrusted with the affairs of kings, oversaw critical aspects of government, and was actively engaged in matters that shaped the course of entire kingdoms. If anyone had a justifiable reason to say he was too busy to pray, indeed, it would have been Daniel.
And yet, what do we find? Despite the immense pressure of his position and the constant demands on his time, Daniel made it a non-negotiable part of his life to set aside time to seek the Lord—three times a day. This was not casual or occasional; it was deliberate, disciplined, and deeply personal.
This truth challenges me—and perhaps it challenges you as well. We often speak of how busy we are. But busy with what, exactly? Much of our time is consumed with tasks, responsibilities, and endless lists of things to do. We are pulled in many directions, often overwhelmed and hurried. But if Daniel, amidst all the weight of governing a vast empire, could pause to commune with God, what then is our excuse?
Here is the sobering conclusion: if we find ourselves too busy to spend time with God, then we are likely doing more than He ever intended for us to carry. When our schedules are so full that our time with the Lord is the first thing to be neglected, it is a clear sign that our priorities have shifted out of alignment.
Let us take to heart Daniel’s example and choose to make time for the Lord—not out of mere obligation but from a deep sense of necessity and devotion. There will always be work to do. The needs are urgent, the responsibilities heavy, and the opportunities many. But none of these should ever come before the most vital relationship we possess—the one we share with our Heavenly Father.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy Devotions. This devotional was originally published on Worthy Devotions and was reproduced with permission.
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A “second time.” Jonah’s repentance gave him a second chance to obey the Lord and to fulfill his ministry. And he did it successfully. The apostle Paul tells us that “the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable” [Romans 11:29]. Jonah’s disobedience did not take away his calling as a prophet. The discipline of the Lord was fruitful in his life. But compare King Saul. He also got a second chance after failing to wait for Samuel [1 Samuel 13] and he disobeyed again, and lost his kingship [1 Samuel 15]. But even that took many years to transpire after David was anointed.
Jonah now acknowledges that God put him where he is, and he accepts His discipline. “Sheol” is the “grave”, the “pit” or the “abode of the dead”. Did Jonah die, or was he only nearly dead from three days of fish stomach acid, and little or no air? The text doesn’t say; only that if he didn’t actually leave his body, he came as close as a man can get to it; three days worth. In this nebulous and miserable place Jonah cried out, probably from the deepest depths of his agonized soul…he cried out to the Lord.
While most read the story of Jonah focusing on Jonah’s journey, I want to pause and examine the lives of the pagan sailors. What a journey they were on! We see the hand of God touching them providentially through Jonah’s disobedience. Talk about God bringing good from evil.
So the captain came to Jonah, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.” At this point the captain (who probably worshiped Baal and Yamm, god of the sea) has more faith than Jonah.
It must have been a bad storm. These men were experienced, hardened sailors who had seen it all at sea. If they were scared, this could have been the first “perfect storm” since Noah’s flood. So they started the first interfaith prayer meeting in the Bible, each man crying out to his own god. As the ship groaned and creaked in howling wind and massive waves, and the men threw cargo overboard in a desperate attempt to save it, where was Jonah? On deck helping them? Confidently praying to His own God? Shaking with fear and paralyzed with deep conviction? No, he’s taking a nap down below…
Back in the third century Cyprian the Bishop of Carthage wrote to his friend Donatus: “It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered, in the midst of it, a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret.
For the next week or so we’ll be looking closely at the life of Jonah the prophet. Jonah was told to “preach against the city of Nineveh”, that was in the ancient kingdom of Assyria. Nineveh was a major city on the banks of the Tigris River about 500 miles north and east of where Jonah was; located on a contemporary map in modern Iraq, about 300 miles north of Baghdad. Archaeologists have found the ruins of ancient Nineveh right outside the Iraqi city of Mosul. Yes, the same Mosul that was taken last week by jihadists!