Daniel 6:10. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
When you truly believe, possess, and enjoy the gospel that Jesus is the Christ, you enter into a spiritual reality defined by blessings that no earthly force can take away. God has placed His specific mark on you to show that you belong to Him, sealing that promise with His Spirit who dwells in your heart (John 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16).
In Christ, you have already been granted every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 1:3-9). Because the Holy Spirit leads your life 24/7, following His direction ensures victory in all circumstances (John 14:26-27). Therefore, you must be careful not to grieve the Spirit by doing what He forbids (Ephesians 4:30), nor quench His fire by failing to do what He desires (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
When the Holy Spirit comes upon you in power, anything becomes possible. So, do not be discouraged by the limits of your own weakness. Your help does not originate from your own strength or human power, but from the Spirit of God (Zechariah 4:6). God has promised to pour His Spirit out upon you (Joel 2:28), giving you the strength to go to the ends of the earth as a witness for Christ (Acts 1:8).
To encourage you on this covenant journey, God dispatches His angel armies to accompany you (Hebrews 1:14). He receives your prayers through the ministry of these heavenly messengers (Revelation 8:3-5) and sends them to protect you in times of trouble (Daniel 6:22).
God’s intent is to establish His kingdom exactly where you are—in your home, church, school, and workplace (Acts 1:3). He gives you a renewed desire to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33), empowering you to boldly proclaim His truth to the world (Acts 19:8). As you proclaim Christ where He is not yet known, God binds the forces of darkness and blocks the calamities (Genesis 3:15; 1 John 3:8).
God has given you the authority to crush the works of the enemy and the power to overcome all opposition, promising that nothing will ultimately hurt you (Mark 3:15; Luke 10:19). Until the day He calls you home, your life is best lived making disciples of all nations, under the authority of the One who is with you always (Matthew 28:16-20).
The tragedy of the kingdom of Judah was that they missed these incredible blessings, leading to their fall before the Babylonians. Yet, God chose to restore His people through one man of prayer: Daniel. Daniel understood the spiritual reason for the destruction of his nation—the complete loss of the gospel.
Consequently, Daniel resolved not to compromise with the idols of Babylon (Daniel 1:8). He recognized that God had placed him in an influential government position for the specific purpose of restoring the gospel. Daniel saw the absolute spiritual reality of God’s plan to save the world through Christ.
This is why Daniel focused on the throne of the Triune God in prayer three times a day, even when it carried the penalty of death. He prioritized God’s plan over his own life, entrusting himself to the One who held his very breath. Daniel’s faith remained constant; even when he learned that the decree against prayer had been published, he did not falter. He could have taken a thirty-day break or prayed in secret, but he refused to compromise.
Daniel acknowledged God’s sovereignty in both peace and trouble, holding fast to the absolute covenant of the coming Messiah (Daniel 6:10). His prayer was not a product of agony or fear, but was filled with the joy of the Lord and thanksgiving. To Daniel, prayer was not a survival tactic for emergencies; it was his very life. His faithfulness was so evident that even King Darius recognized it, saying, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” (Daniel 6:20).
If you are in trouble or facing pressure to compromise, you should begin the prayer of Daniel. Resolve not to defile yourself with the things of this world (Daniel 1:8) and seek to block the disasters of this age by demonstrating God’s power. Make prayer your priority, holding onto a covenant that transcends your current circumstances.
As you do, you will experience the spiritual strength that heals (Acts 1:8) and gain a wisdom that exceeds anything the world can offer (Daniel 1:20). You will find that you do not grow weary or tired (Isaiah 40:30-31). You will see the “economy of light” heal the “economy of darkness” (Acts 18:1-3), and God will surround you with disciples for the sake of world evangelization (Romans 16:1-27).
Prayer. Father, open my eyes to see the reality of the heavenly realms. Help me realize that those who are with me are more than those who are with the world. Fill me with Your strength so that I may stand firm against the enemy and save this generation from idols. In Jesus’ name, Amen.