“so that they might request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery” Daniel 2:18
Praying in a crisis is the equivalent of shooting up a flare in a time of distress. And there’s nothing wrong with that as long as it’s not the only time we talk with God. Daniel became well-acquainted with crisis praying; usually with his life at stake. When the king gave orders to execute all the wise men of Babylon, it included Daniel and his friends (vv12-13). Daniel’s response to the king’s order is a template for our crisis moments.
Don’t panic. Instead of responding in anger or being consumed with anxiety, Daniel was thoughtful and respectful (vv14-16). Many of us get off track right from the beginning because we have a knee-jerk reaction rather than submit to the Holy Spirit’s control. Remember, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).
Involve God in the problem through prayer (v18). Of course, God is always aware of the details in our lives but often waits for us to turn to Him for the solution. That’s why Philippians 4:6 tells us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Find praying friends. Notice, Daniel didn’t pray alone (vv17-18). Throughout the Bible we see the powerful advantage of having friends who pray fervently (Acts 12:5-11). Most of us tend to do one of two things—either keep the problem private or talk about it more than we actually pray about it. But nothing is more powerful than hearing another believer call out your name to God Almighty. And that requires being vulnerable.
Sooner or later we all find ourselves shooting up a flare to God, praying in a crisis moment. Again, there’s nothing wrong with that as long as it’s not the only time we pray. For Daniel, prayer was like breathing. Talking with God was such an integral part of his everyday life that he continued even when praying was outlawed under the penalty of death (Daniel 6:10).
You see, the key to praying in a crisis is to already have a strong prayer life. By taking your everyday cares and concerns to the Lord, you learn to live in constant awareness of who He is and how He works (Daniel 2:19-23). Do your daily habits include time in God’s Word and time in prayer?