Last month, I wrote about how trustworthy Daniel was.  This month, I would like to focus on how Daniel prayed.  We are told that when Daniel heard about the king’s decree, he knew it would affect him and so he went to pray.  Daniel 6: ¹⁰ Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. 

Daniel did not become emotional, no he didn’t.  Instead, he prayed three times that day and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom. When Daniel heard that this decree could stop him from praying to God, he did not stop praying or feel sad or feel sorry for himself. We are told that he went to petition God. This real-life situation made him persist three times a day in the presence of God.  Revelation 12: ¹⁰ … for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.   As Christians, we need to be aware that there are people around us who are ready to accuse us.

The story continues in verse ¹¹ Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.  For Daniel prayer was both communion with God and pleading for His will to be accomplished (supplication). Reading the story of Daniel, I don’t believe this was a one-off.  This was Daniel’s lifestyle, prayer. 

He did this so openly and he was unpretentious that all who knew him knew it to be his practice.  We had already been told in Daniel 6: ⁴ So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. ⁵ Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”  His accusers knew Daniel was trustworthy and did not have any skeleton in his cupboard, so to speak.

. Daniel, prayed in his upper room – this was private prayer, made with no intention to impress others. He prayed in a private place, where no one would disturb him.  This was his practice and no decree of praying becoming a crime was going to stop him from doing what he does daily. His focus was on God alone and not anyone else. 

· He prayed with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he remembered the land of his forefathers and wanted to connect to Jerusalem, even when praying.  place which God had chosen to put his name there; and, Jerusalem was the place where the temple was dedicated, Solomon’s prayer to God was that if his people should in the land of their enemies pray unto him with their eye towards the land which he gave them, and the city he had chosen, and the house which was built to his name, then he would hear and maintain their cause, 1kings 8:48-49, Daniel remembered or had been told about Solomon’s prayer and kept to it.

· He prayed according to Scripture, because Solomon in 1 kings 8:30, asked God to give special notice to the prayers of His people when they prayed towards Jerusalem and the temple: And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place

· He knelt down on his knees, praying just as Jesus did, Luke 22: ⁴¹ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, as Peter Acts 9:⁴⁰ Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed.  As Paul and other leaders in the church Acts 20:³⁶ When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. Acts 21: 5 When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. I chose all the above Scriptures to show how important prayer was in the lives of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostles. Kneeling is expressing of humility, and reverence, and submission to God.

· He prayed and gave thanks, because great prayer is filled with thanksgiving. “Prayer and praise should always go up to heaven arm in arm, like twin angels walking up Jacob’s ladder, or like kindred aspirations soaring up to the Most High.” (Spurgeon). People say that after prayer we should thank God for answered prayers in advance. Isaiah 65: Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.  In every prayer Daniel gave thanks.  When we pray to God for the mercies we want we must praise him for those we have received. Thanksgiving must be a part of every prayer.

. He did this three times a day, three times every day according to the example of David, Psalm 55: 17. Morning, evening, and at noon, I will pray. It is good to have our hours of prayer.  If we think our bodies require refreshment by food thrice a day, can we think of what we serve our souls?

Though Daniel was a man of vast business, working for the king, he did not think that would excuse him from the daily exercises of devotion. How inexcusable are we who say we are too busy to pray?  Daniel was a man famous for prayer, he was successful, and he came to be so by thus making a conscious effort to pray and make a business of it daily; and in thus doing God blessed him wonderfully.

How do you handle adversity? What do you do first? Cry? Have a pity party?  Or ignore the problem, wishing it away?

Let us pray:

Father help me to pray more than before as from now on in the name of Jesus.

Lord let the spirit of prayer come into my life in the name of Jesus.

Lord I thank you in advance for the prayers I have prayed before now, believing you for a miracle in Jesus name.

My books:

Prayer Personified; Godly Declarations and How to Deal with Unforgiveness the Godly Way are all available on Amazon.