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 1999-2026 Worthy Devotions. This devotional was originally published on Worthy Devotions and was reproduced with permission.
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Studying some remarkable events in the history of World War 2, we find the deliverance of the allied armies at Dunkirk; a true story of Divine providence in modern history. It was on May 10, 1940, that Hitler unleashed his armies against France and Belgium. Within days, the British army found itself outmaneuvered and unprepared for the German blitzkrieg assault led by General Rommel and his 7th Panzer division.
Thousands are gathering in Washington D.C. today to pray for the inauguration of the new president of the United States. I know a number of people who will be there and I think it’s a good thing, but this reminds me of a story I heard once.
We arrived at the airport late Thursday night with our bags and our kiddos only to find out that our flight was canceled because of a freak accident — a tractor ran into the plane, of all things! So we repacked our ourselves tightly into a small rental car to make the two hour drive to get back home to Arad in the middle of the night. Our flight was postponed till Sunday.
There was a man who had four sons, and he wanted them to understand the importance of not rushing to judgment. So, he sent each one on a journey to view a pear tree that was far away. He sent the first son in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in the summer, and the youngest in the fall. After they all returned, he gathered them together to hear what they had seen.
The Hebrew letter mem, equivalent to our English letter “M,” has a fascinating characteristic: it has two forms. The “open mem” appears at the beginning or middle of a word, with a small opening in its design. The “closed mem,” however, is used exclusively as the final letter in a word, fully sealed in its appearance. This distinction is consistent throughout the Hebrew language—except for one extraordinary exception found in the Bible.
We came across this story, about a man who was slowly losing his memory. After a lengthy examination, the doctor said that a risky operation on his brain might reverse his condition and restore his memory. However, the surgery would be so delicate that a nerve could be severed, causing total blindness.
Yeshua (Jesus) gave a remarkable parenthetic instruction in the middle of His Olivet discourse on the time of His coming and the end of the age. While it is unlikely that He himself said this, He certainly inspired Matthew to insert, “..let the reader understand”, concerning this critical event prophesied by Daniel, the Abomination of Desolation. His exhortation intended us (the readers of Matthew’s gospel) to learn what this means.