Daniel 6:13-23
13 Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day."
14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15 Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, "Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed."
16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!"
17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation might not be changed.
18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den.
20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?"
21 Daniel answered, "O king, live forever!
22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

Daniel, the exiled Israelite, has faithfully served the kings of Babylon. Now even after the Babylonians were conquered by the Medes and Persians, Daniel continues his faithful service to the new king Darius. At this time Daniel was over 80 years old and one of Darius’ top three administrators. The king was planning to set him over the whole kingdom (6:3). The jealous officials could not find anything about Daniel’s life to criticise, so they attacked his religion (6:4-5). The law was made: anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days except the king will be thrown into the Lion’s den. Yet Daniel continued to pray three times a day as he always did. Daniel had a disciplined prayer life. He made no attempt to hide his daily prayer routine from his enemies in the government. Even though he knew he would be disobeying the new law; he was sure only God could give him the guidance and strength during this difficult time.

Our God has power to do anything, even he shuts the lions’ mouths. The man or woman who trusts in God and obeys his will is untouchable until God takes him or her. Many unbelievers could witness Daniel’s faithful devotion to God. Do you have a disciplined prayer life like Daniel? What kind of pressure you give in to miss your prayer time with God? Proverb 3:5 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Can you imagine being in the hugry lion’s den and coming out without even a scar?) To trust God, is to have immeasurable peace. God who delivered Daniel will deliver you. Do you trust him with your life?

Prayer idea

Let us decide to get our prayer life organized. Give it justice.