Click credit links below each pic, for licensing names/details/tags/etc.. Most pics cropped/reduced in size

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

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“SUN SHALL BE DARKENED”

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 The Bible speaks of the Sun being darkened in various passages, such as this… “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall THE SUN BE DARKENED, and the Moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in Heaven:  Matthew 24:29-30.

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Here is seen a prophetic scenario to be fulfilled in these times: “the Sun shall be darkened, and the Moon shall not give her light.”

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And there are other similar passages, such as this… “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. THE SUN SHALL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS, and the Moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.” Joel 2:30-32.

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But how are we to understand this? Will the Moon be turned to literal blood?

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Or are these things to be understood figuratively?

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And why is the Moon spoken of as “her”?

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Picture to right courtesy of Luc Viatour for wikipedia.  GNU Free Documentation License.

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NON-BIBLICAL HERMENEUTIC

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“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1st Corinthians 2:14

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There is a false idea circulating in Christendom today that says that Scripture must be literally interpreted as far as possible. In other words, the Bible must be understood literally unless the context demands an allegorical interpretation.

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But the Bible encourages spiritual interpretation, as long as it is done so according to Scripture, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. And so there are many sincere Christians who are shut out from much Biblical light, by this baseless and un-scriptural hermeneutic.

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And this non-biblical hermeneutic has caused many Christians to stumble, not understanding these prophecies concerning the last days, in which “the Sun shall be darkened”. Many just cannot understand that the Bible must be spiritually discerned. And so they look at these prophecies and insist that they must be fulfilled literally.

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Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.

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A SPIRITUAL EVENT

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But by comparing, “spiritual things with spiritual” (see 1st Corinthians 2:13), this article will attempt to show that the Sun being darkened, in the coming time of trouble, will be a spiritual event, and not necessarily a literal one.

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So please take a few moments to consider these things, and see if the Bible reveals precious light concerning these things. And in so-doing, we might just find that our own pathway of truth becomes a little brighter.

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Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.

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PATH OF THE JUST & WAY OF THE WICKED

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“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.” Proverbs 4:18, 19

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The above passage from Proverbs speaks of the two classes of people living upon the Earth: Those who walk the ever-brightening pathway of truth, and those who walk in spiritual darkness. This is perhaps one of the greatest metaphors of Scripture: that Jesus is that Light. But Jesus can only truly be revealed through a humble, prayerful searching of the Scriptures.

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Listen… “And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13.

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But sadly, those who choose rather to direct their time and energies toward the pleasures and adventures and the cares and aspirations of this present world, may be left to walk through this life in darkness. But those who walk toward the Light of Life will find it. All such will joyfully discover that… “…the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day. Proverbs 4:18

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Pilgrim in a Rocky Valley by Carl Gustav Carus wikimedia US public domain

 

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“SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES”

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So just how do we find the ever-brightening pathway of the Just?

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Well, listen again to Jeremiah… “And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” Notice that this verse promotes the idea of finding the Lord. But how does the Christian search for Christ?

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The Bible says… “Search the scriptures…they are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39. Jesus is revealed all through the Bible: both in the Old, as well as in the New Testaments.

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The Old Testament however, was the Gospel of Jesus, found in types and shadows. In it, Christ was hidden, to a great extent, within the symbolic ceremonies and various object lessons found within the Law. But all these pointed forward to the coming Messiah.

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Listen… “Then He (Jesus) said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Luke 24:25-27.

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As this passage reveals, Christ is found all through the Old Testament. But He must be found through a spiritual understanding of the various ceremonies, holy days, and laws found in the Old Testament, which are like signs, or like shadows, pointing us to Christ. 

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theholyofholies-www.thebiblerevival.com-public domain

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“SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES”

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So if we are ever going to understand these spiritual things, we must study the comparable Bible passages, and by “comparing spiritual things with spiritual”.

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And by so-doing, we might gain and understanding of what the Bible actually means, concerning the Sun being darkened.

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain

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BIBLE SPEAKS REPEATEDLY OF THE SUN

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“For the LORD God is a sun and shield:” Psalm 84:11 

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The Bible repeats this concept from start to finish. Such passages as this one, speak of spiritual light and darkness… “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.” 2nd Peter 1:19

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Christ here compares Himself to the “day star” (the Sun). Here is a remarkable revelation concerning the last days. That Christ will be “the day-star” which arises in our hearts at the great “Dawning of the Day”. And this concept should be researched and understood, in order to gain a greater understanding of just how shall the Sun be darkened.

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Sunrise from Burrow Mump, Burrowbridge, Somerset – cropped image – wikimedia share-alike license

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JESUS WARNS TO WALK IN THE LIGHT

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“Where else does the Sun being darkened speak of spiritual darkness?”

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Well, just listen to this next passage…

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“Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walks in darkness knows not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and did hide Himself from them.” John 12:35, 36.

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Notice here that after Jesus warned of darkness falling on those who refuse to “walk in the light” that Jesus, “hid Himself from them”. Jesus, the, “Sun of Righteousness”, hid Himself. Do you see the spiritual truth presented here? Now here is beginning to be seen this concept of a spiritual eclipse. In other words, when, “Jesus hid Himself”, these opponents of Jesus were left in spiritual darkness. At least, that is the picture being painted here in this little story.

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Listen… “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12. So here is the key to being in the light: following Jesus.

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Picture to right courtesy of Luc Viatour for wikipedia.  GNU Free Documentation License.

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SUN GOES DOWN ON FALSE PROPHETS

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But there are other verses about the Sun being darkened in a spiritual sense. Just listen to this passage… “He takes away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. THEY GROPE IN THE DARK WITHOUT LIGHT, and He makes them to stagger like a drunken man.” Job 12:24, 25.

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Obviously, this judgment against, “the chief of the people of the Earth”, is speaking of spiritual darkness.

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Now for further substantiation of this spiritual concept, is this next passage… “Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.  SHALL NOT THE DAY OF THE LORD BE DARKNESS, AND NOT LIGHT, AND NO BRIGHTNESS IN IT.” Amos 5: 18, 19

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Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain

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SOME IN DARKNESS WHILE OTHERS IN LIGHT

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QUESTION: “So is there some Old Testament story which can be applied to the Book of Revelation regarding these last days that points to God’s people not being in darkness?”

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ANSWER: “And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: BUT ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL HAD LIGHT IN THEIR DWELLINGS.” Exodus 10:22, 23. This plague over all Egypt brought gross darkness over all the land. But the Children of Israel had, “light in their dwellings”.

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This is an object lesson pointing forward to our day. God’s people will have the, “Light of Life”, to light our pathway. But those who are of, “Spiritual Sodom & Egypt, where our Lord was crucified”, will be left in total “Spiritual Darkness”, as God is now to pour out His plagues.

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Engraving by Gustave Dore’ “The Plague Of Darkness” www.creationism.org Public Domain

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DARKNESS OVER MANY PROPHETS TODAY

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“And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I WILL COVER THE SUN WITH A CLOUD, and the moon shall not give her light. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD. I will also vex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy destruction among the nations, into the countries … when I shall brandish My sword before them…” Ezekiel 32:7-10 (condensed).

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So God is going to darken the Sun with a cloud. So what is that all about? And what is that sword that God will brandish?  Well, as to this second question, that sword of the Lord, is spoken of in Ephesians… “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God:” Ephesians 6:17.

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These verses confirm the idea of a spiritual darkening. The wicked have their eyes darkened. That is, their understanding is darkened. There is a spiritual famine of hearing God’s Word. And conversely, the righteous will not be darkened. But rather, the Sun shall be even brighter for the righteous. That is, their understanding of the truth will be enlightened, especially in the last days.

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Just listen… “The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And He shall be as the light of the morning, when the Sun rises, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.”  2nd Samuel 23:3, 4

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THE END

 

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NEXT ARTICLE:

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LUNAR ECLIPSE & SPIRITUAL ECLIPSE

click on above title for link

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If you haven’t read this next article about a lunar eclipse, and how it relates to the Church and to the Christian, it would be very beneficial to read.

The Lord has created this world and this universe, not merely to be beautiful, but also to teach spiritual truth. And the Moon is no exception! As a matter of fact, the Moon has such incredible significance, it is almost too much for a human to endure!

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But prayerfully read and comprehend this next article…click here… “Lunar Eclipse & Spiritual Eclipse”

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Pictured right is of the drawing of the eclipse of 1888. This is a drawing of a winter-time total lunar eclipse, first published in Bilder- (Picture Atlas of the Stemenwelt) in 1888 wikipedia public domain

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A HEAVENLY HOBBY

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“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold Who hath created these things; that brings out their host by number: He calls them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth.” Isaiah 40:26

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ABOVE PICTURE – Starry Night at La Silla – cropped  and altered image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.

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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.

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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.

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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.

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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…

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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”

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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.

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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!

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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.

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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.

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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.

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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” Luke 21:25

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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)

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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS

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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).

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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).

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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).

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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.

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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.

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ABOVE PICTURE: Orion the Soldier and the Revelation 12 Dragon (Hyades & Pleiades, etc.) – winter constellations – www.signsofheaven.org – not for commercial use

ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses

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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS

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Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…

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Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!

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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!

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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.

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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.

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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)

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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and latered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS

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Now of course, the Bible commands us to, “pray without ceasing“. The Christian is to constantly talk with our Heavenly Father throughout the day.

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But the Bible also holds up the godly life of Daniel, who, when captive in Babylon, still set aside three times daily, in which he knelt for special prayer.

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And furthermore the Bible also says… “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17.

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Even those who are bed-fast or in a prison cell can begin to imitate Daniel in this way. And if one is fortunate to be able to walk, then this thrice-daily prayer regimen can be combined with three walks daily and even nightly.

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Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – public domain

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