Daily Bread – February 17, 2024 (The Seventh Day – Genesis 2:1-3) Psalms 55:17 – Evening and morning and at noon I will pray and cry aloud, and You shall hear my voice. There was a commitment by the psalmist to pray three times a day, bowing before God to express the strong feelings of His soul. The psalmist along with many others for many generations came three times a day to bow before the throne of God, to honor Him and recognize that all things belong to Him, and to make known their intense desire to please Him in all they did. Daniel was among those who prayed three times a day and gave thanks to God (Daniel 6:10). Praying three times is traditionally also related to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God also commanded for the evening and morning sacrifice to be offered up every day (Exodus 29:38-42). This was also spoken of concerning the tabernacle as well (1 Chronicles 23:30). The noon hour of prayer was kept and also extended into the New Testament witnessed by the time that Peter went to prayer (Acts 10:9). So when we consider how the lifting of our hands is as the evening sacrifice, then as those who live as a living sacrifice, we should offer up spiritual sacrifices to the Lord with our prayer and praise throughout the day (Psalms 141:1; 1 Peter 2:5; Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15). The lifting of our hands is not only like the evening sacrifice, but our prayer is as the incense that was also offered unto the Lord in the evening and in the morning each day (Psalms 141:2; Revelation 8:3-4; 2 Chronicles 13:11). The prayer we offer to the Lord is to be by the fire of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us (John 4:23; Matthew 3:11; Acts 2:3; Leviticus 10:1; Numbers 3:4). There may be those who think going to prayer three times a day is nothing but religious ritual, but what everyone must also consider is how it can be an act of intimate relationship. What an honor and privilege to have access to the throne of Grace where we can come and bow before the Ancient of Days. If we really believe we have such an opportunity and that the act of prayer and praise delights the Father’s heart, how then could we do anything less? Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Daily Bread 2/17/2024
