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.
More Devotions
Last week, we discussed the significance of Jerusalem in the culmination of the age. Here, we’ll continue to scratch that surface. The word “Jerusalem” is so rich with meaning that a single devotion will only begin to unpack it; there are so many etymological approaches. But most agree that the root letters at the end, שלם (shalem) spell a Hebrew word requiring numerous English words to fully comprehend including, “perfect”, “complete”, “sound”, “whole”, “harmony”, “peace”, etc. In addition, the concept of payment is present, as לשלם (leshalem), “to pay”, also suggests “reward”.
When God set apart the Seventh Day it was after He Himself had worked for six, and then rested. Shabbat is therefore, “primordial” in a real sense, something established from the beginning of time. This makes the pattern of working six days and resting on the seventh something fundamental to human existence, and something exceedingly blessed.
The expectation of the coming Kingdom of God is intimately connected with the restoration of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. The preceding passage describes Zion in labor, as once again, we find the metaphor of birth used to convey this scriptural promise. It is a national gestation which will not be aborted, but will come to fruition. But first, before this labor begins…a “male child” is born… This can be none other than Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, Israel’s King, Himself, arriving beforehand, (on a donkey, at that), quite some time before the labor which gives birth to the nation; and causing the prophet to wonder if a nation can be born in a day.
Here’s an interesting fact about American church history that you may not know. Years ago, when the first New England churches were designed, they were built with clear windows rather than the stained glass ones we see so often today — and the graveyard was usually built in the churchyard, which would normally be seen from the pulpit. Why?
Yesterday, we began our series of devotions focused on the birthing of the Kingdom. Continuing to develop these insights, let’s look at day 2 of creation and its focus upon water.
For several years now, I’ve been focusing on the Kingdom of God, a central theme of Yeshua’s preaching [Luke 4:43], and will be offering a series of devotions on this topic with particular emphasis on our present season, which I believe portends the birthing of this Kingdom. A study of the gestation process from conception to birth yields insight as a natural parallel into the historical process we’re witnessing and taking part in. This theme will be developed in the coming days.
Yeshua (Jesus) began His earthly ministry by being baptized in the Jordan river. The word Jordan in Hebrew is “Yarden” and its root is “yarad”. It literally means to descend, which would make sense being that the Jordan descends from over 8,000 feet from Mount Hermon to the Dead Sea which sits more than 1,000 feet below sea level.