Writer's Knees

There's a new condition in the medical world.  Seriously...it's called "Toasted Skin Syndrome".  The culprit:  spending too many hours a day with a laptop perched on your legs.  Over time, the extreme heat on our skin can cause damage, much like sunburn.   

So does that mean that instead of getting writer's cramp, I can get "writer's knees"?  When I blog I rest my laptop on my knees, and unless the words flow quickly (sometimes they don't), my laptop heats up.  Soon thereafter, my knees and thighs heat up too.  It's an uncomfortable situation; but instead of taking the time to get out the laptop desk, I just wiggle the laptop from side to side to cool off.  I think I should change my habits. 

I am currently reading a devotional and prayer guide by Beth Moore, called "Whispers of Hope".  I bought it at the GW and I'm just finishing up week two.  Today's Bible study about prayer was from Daniel 6.  You probably remember the story from childhood of how God spared Daniel's life when King Darius threw him into the den of lions.  The part of the story that we usually overlook is how Daniel's habits placed him there.

Daniel was just a boy when he was taken captive in Jerusalem and transported over 500 miles to Babylon.  But he never stopped serving the God of his people, even though he was in a pagan land.  He was a faithful servant to the king and carried out the duties assigned to him with excellence.  The king was so pleased with Daniel, he planned to make him ruler over the entire kingdom.  The other presidents and satraps were jealous and plotted to destroy Daniel.  When they could find no fault or complaint against his personal life or work ethic, they decided to use his faithfulness to the God of Israel against him.  The rulers convinced King Darius to put a law into effect.  This edict could not be changed.  For a period of thirty days, the only person or god that could be petitioned was King Darius.  Any offender would be put to death by being thrown to the hungry lions.   

Daniel 6:10 says, "Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously."   

Even though Daniel knew of the king's command, three times a day he knelt and openly worshipped and prayed to God...as was his habit.  God blessed Daniel for his faithfulness by sparing his life and bringing glory to Himself.  I feel sure God is more pleased with "praying knees" than "writer's knees".              

Copyright 2011 Charlotte Laney