Middle school · Day 4 of 5
Praying Anyway
Read: Daniel 6:1-10 (KJV)
1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 2And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 3Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. 6Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 7All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 9Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. 10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
Read the whole chapter ›What it means
Daniel was now an older man and a top leader in the kingdom. Some jealous officials wanted to get rid of him, but they could not find anything wrong with him. So they tricked the king into making a law that no one could pray to anyone but the king for thirty days. What did Daniel do? He went home, opened his windows, and prayed three times a day, "as he did aforetime." He did not hide and he did not change his habit. Daniel's faith was not just for Sundays. It was his everyday life. When people tease you for praying at lunch, going to church, or reading your Bible, remember Daniel. A daily habit of prayer builds the kind of courage that stands strong when tested.
Key verse
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”
Daniel 6:10 (KJV)
Think about it
- Why do you think the officials could not find anything wrong with Daniel?
- What does it mean that Daniel prayed "as he did aforetime"?
- Have you ever been embarrassed about your faith? What would help you be bolder?
Pray
God, I want my faith to be real every day, not just on Sundays. Help me keep praying and reading Your Word even when others do not understand. Make me faithful like Daniel. Amen.