What would you do if you were told you could no longer pray to God? And if you did? You would be killed — by ravenous lions. It’s an extreme situation to imagine, but that’s exactly what happened to Daniel. Local officials were threatened by Daniel’s abilities, favor with the king, and growing power, so they advised King Darius to put a law in place prohibiting prayer to anyone besides him. The leaders did this knowing that Daniel was loyal to Yahweh, the one true God of Israel.

While most of us live in places where we enjoy immense religious freedoms, we can all relate to circumstances coming our way that we can’t predict, control, or change. That’s where Daniel found himself. And he had a choice: he could concede to the new law of the land to ensure his own safety, he could run away from the place God had called him to serve, or He could trust God’s goodness and power over man’s.

What an encouragement to read what Daniel chose:

“But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help.”
Daniel 6:10-11

Daniel was a man of prayer. A person who sought God at all times — regularly when life felt manageable and faithfully when life seemed impossible.

It’s definitely worth your time to read all of Daniel chapter 6 and see what happened after the officials caught Daniel defying the new law and how God came through for Him in a miraculous way! But for today, right now, let this story be a reminder to pray. Whatever feels like it might overwhelm you, crush you, be the end of you . . . start there.

Thank God for who He is and ask Him for the help only He can give. 

We’d be honored to come alongside you in the comments.