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. Daniel 6:10
By Daniel 6, it appears that Daniel is no longer an underdog. He had made a name for himself with the king that had given him a prominent position of power in Babylon. And yet, despite his power and reputation, Daniel was thrown into another underdog situation. In this situation, Daniel could have stayed quiet about his faith, yet he chose to boldly and courageously stay true to his faith in God.
Daniel had so much favor that other members of the king's administration became jealous of him and looked for ways to discredit him. He had such character that they could find not one thing to discredit him. Because they could not discredit Daniel, they attacked his faith. They tricked the king into enacting a policy, making prayer to anyone but the king illegal. Now, when Daniel heard about this policy, he could have decided to pray silently. He could have prayed in private so that no one would know when he was praying. Instead, Daniel 6:10 tells us that he immediately went home and opened his windows and prayed. Can you imagine his courage and boldness? Daniel refused to let this new order affect his relationship with God. He was indeed a man of unwavering faith.
Daniel's unwavering faith in God and boldness are an example to you and me today. Just like Daniel, you and I are called to live with boldness and faithfulness to God, even when things become difficult. When life becomes difficult, when we are asked to do hard, scary things, sometimes by God, may Daniel, his courage, and his boldness be an example for us, and may we, too, carry his unwavering faith and boldness.
Take some time to read from the "Going Deeper" section below. Read the verses at least three times. After reading, reflect. Pull out your journal and think about Daniel's boldness and unwavering faith. What would it look like for you, right now, to live with his same boldness and faith? Is there a step you can take today to live out that boldness and unwavering faith? As you journal, formulate one action step you can take this week to live with Daniel's boldness and faith.
Read Daniel 6:6-10 (NLT)
So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” So King Darius signed the law.
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.
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