“Now when Daniel knew that the writing [the decree of King Darius prohibiting prayer to the LORD] 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.” Daniel 6:10, NKJV. [1]
Open Windows
Daniel did not have to open his windows when he wanted to commune with the Lord. Apparently they were open, as our Indian windows are, all the time. [2] Is it not a perfect picture of how we are meant to live? We do not have to spend even one minute in opening our windows, if our custom is to keep them open. To be earthly-minded, moved by self-love, self-pity, selfwill–that trend of feeling which leads to self-occupation–is to close the shutters.
Are my windows open toward Jerusalem? Is my whole being, with all its various “windows,” always open? Sometimes winds blow from one side or another and a window is blown shut. If that happens, do I know it at once?
The risen Christ declared, “I am now standing at the door and am knocking. If any one listens to My voice and opens the door (window), I will go in to be with him and will feast with him, and he shall feast with Me” (Rev. 3:20, Weymouth).
“Lord Jesus, let me know it at once. Do not let me go on with any windows shut or half-open. Lord, help me to keep my windows open continually toward Jerusalem.”
Small Windows
His windows was open in his chamber toward Jerusalem. Daniel had only to kneel down upon his knees beside one of those windows, and at once he had access to the Father. Daniel’s windows almost certainly were very small, set in a thick wall.
We often feel that the windows of our chamber are very small–we see so little, know so little of our Heavenly Jerusalem–but a bird can fly through a very small window out into the wide blue air, and if our windows be open toward Jerusalem, we shall in heart and mind thither ascend.
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16, NKJV.
Saviour, in Whom we have access with confidence,
Lead us in prayer to-day;
Here at Thy feet we lay
All our desires; do Thou
Direct us now.
O loving Comforter, help our infirmities,
That which we know not, teach;
Fashion our mortal speech
That we may know to pray
The Heavenly way.
Amy Carmichael (1867-1951)
EDGES OF HIS WAYS (Christian Literature Crusade,1955) 92, 93. Amy authored 35 books. (Rev. 3:20 and Heb. 4:16 added)
[1] This Medo-Persian king reigned after Cyrus’ conquest of Babylon. Daniel’s bold prayer gave his enemies ground to arrest him and cast him into in the den of lions (537 B.C.). But God delivered his intercessor!
[2] Amy Carmichael and the Dohnavur Fellowship were based in Tamil Nadu near the southern tip of India.