Daniel 6

I can't tell you how many times I've looked at these Verses. Every child who is raised in the church knows this story of the brave Daniel who defied the King, worshiped God and then was spared by God's grace when he was sent to the lion's den. It's a great story but it wasn't until I did devotions today that I saw a bigger picture of it all. It wasn't my own moment of clarity, though I wish I could tell you it was, it's from one of Beth Moore's books but has a HUGE moment of clarity for me!

First ready Daniel 6, it's a good story and a good read. I read it over Vacation Bible School this year and now again today, both times seeing the story I had heard a million times and nothing more. What else could I possibly get from this story?? MAN I am so thankful God showed me more!! Beth Moore has 4 amazing points about this story but only one is what I want to tell you about.

Beth Moore points out that Daniel was already in the habit of prayer.... think about that for a minute.... he was in the habit of doing it already. If his life looked anything like mine (since I am a mom and he wasn't I doubt it did but play along for a minute) this meant he had to wake up before the kids did, he had to schedule in some time to spend with God, he had to schedule his 30 or however minutes a day to take a break so the kids (or people he worked with) knew he shouldn't be bothered during that time. I find this one hard! My life goes full speed all the time, 4 kids, a husband and everything else inbetween and God just isn't loud enough sometimes to get noticed. I can't tell you how much I need to do this though. I always try to treat God like my marriage, be intentional in all things. I forget sometimes how I have to stop and get on my knees to spend time with him. It's so easy to forget it!  If I didn't do this with my husband my marriage would be over fast, he wouldn't feel like a priority, he wouldn't feel respected, he wouldn't feel loved.

I can't have a "911 relationship" with God as Beth Moore calls it. God needs to know my voice, my desires, we need to talk so then when something come along we aren't in a hurry to get through to the "God hurry, this is kind of a pressing issue" part. I would hate to have that relationship with someone, to just be the person they call to fix all their problems (besides my kids cause I can hear them calling "MOoooOM" now, one of them took a toy from the other I am sure). God would still help us, like I am still willing to help my kids, but he could do so much more in our lives if he heard from me every day, all the time, without end.

I want this relationship with God, the kind where God knows my voice because I talk to him all the time. I fail at this though, I fail at it for so many reasons and none of them are good ones. So tomorrow, I am going to wake up early, I am going to find a silent spot and I am going to give him time. I am going to put reminders out for myself so that I can be purposeful in our relationship, God's and mine. I am going to start letting him get used to my voice. Don't get me wrong, I know its not going to be easy and just like with my husband there will be times I don't want to talk to God but I am going to try.