Posted: 18 July 2022

From a sermon given on 16 July 2023:

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)

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.There are some customs that need to be preserved while others should be done away with. For example FGM in Kenya should be weeded out at all costs* . In Greece, they had a custom of spitting as a way of blessings e.g spitting on the bride or on a baby as a sign of good health and ward off evil powers. They are now doing away with it. Among the good customs include punctuality, integrity, honesty, hardworking , taking care of the aged , self-control, charity , and dressing modestly .

Daniel had adopted one good custom that we ought also to adopt in earnest and emulate him. He had a custom of praying three times a day irrespective of the laws enacted and Its consequences. However, his enemies found a bait to subdue him. They set a decree and published it as a law forbidding the same. When Daniel learnt this, he went to his upstairs room, opened the windows and prayed as his “custom” was.

When every high power is out to finish you, we have a higher power out to our advantage. These good customs will attract both compliments and vendetta in equal measures. Whatever happens, we must not shy away or reschedule doing what will bring glory to our heavenly Father. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:8)

Further readings:

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
(Genesis 28:15)

Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
(Psalm 118:25)

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
(2 Peter 1:5-9)