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Believing What God Said
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name: Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee.”
2 Chronicles 6:38–39
When Solomon completed the beautiful Temple in Jerusalem, he dedicated it with great ceremony and sacrifices. As part of the dedication, he prayed that God would guard His people and keep them following Him—but also that if they turned away from God and were judged, He would remember them and still listen for their prayers. The Israelites did turn from God and were taken into captivity as a result of His judgment.
Yet even after that great defeat, there were those among God’s people who believed that they could trust Him. It was not by accident that the enemies of Daniel conspired against him by trying to outlaw prayer to anyone other than King Darius. What Daniel was doing, and had been doing long before the law was signed, was in response to Solomon’s declaration of what God would do. “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” (Daniel 6:10).
Daniel believed that God could be faithful to hear his prayers just as Solomon had asked. His faith was demonstrated in his actions. There is no such thing as a vibrant and living faith that does not produce obedience in our lives.
2 Chronicles 6:38–39
When Solomon completed the beautiful Temple in Jerusalem, he dedicated it with great ceremony and sacrifices. As part of the dedication, he prayed that God would guard His people and keep them following Him—but also that if they turned away from God and were judged, He would remember them and still listen for their prayers. The Israelites did turn from God and were taken into captivity as a result of His judgment.
Yet even after that great defeat, there were those among God’s people who believed that they could trust Him. It was not by accident that the enemies of Daniel conspired against him by trying to outlaw prayer to anyone other than King Darius. What Daniel was doing, and had been doing long before the law was signed, was in response to Solomon’s declaration of what God would do. “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” (Daniel 6:10).
Daniel believed that God could be faithful to hear his prayers just as Solomon had asked. His faith was demonstrated in his actions. There is no such thing as a vibrant and living faith that does not produce obedience in our lives.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Only when we do what God says, do we reveal that we have genuine faith in His Word and His promises.
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