Daniel Part 3

"He knelt down on his knees"
Here we see Daniel's attitude conveyed in his prayer. Although bodily posture in prayer is not dictated, an attitude of reverence, awe, and respect is required. No doubt, this will be reflected to a degree in the posture of our bodies and the language used. Some prefer the poetic forms in addressing the Creator of the universe. "Thee" and "Thou" are typically expressive of a respectful attitude. But, using these terms is a matter of personal preference, not a matter of right and wrong. However, our attitude in prayer is a matter of right and wrong.

"Three times that day, and prayed"
The regularity of Daniel's prayer is noteworthy. Some do well to pray three times a week, or a month, or even a year outside the assembly. This is not good, friends. It was Daniel's practice to pray three times a day. He must have been one of those who believe that prayer avails much (cf. James 5:16). Some other New Testament passages also come to mind:

• Matthew 7:7-11:

  "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"

• I Thessalonians 5:17 - "Pray without ceasing."
• Philippians 4:6 - "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."

"And gave thanks before his God"
Being thankful is an essential to being a Christian, and giving thanks is essential in prayer. Daniel understood this. How many times do we bow before God and pour out our hearts in expressing our wishes and our needs, but forget to give thanks? May it not be so with you! We cannot express our heart-felt gratitude for all God's mercies too often. A great portion of our prayers, both public and private, should be expressions of genuine appreciation.

"As was his custom since his early days"
Praying three times a day was not something new with Daniel. It was not something he turned to only when he was in trouble, distress, or sickness. It was Daniel's custom to pray like this, and he wasn't going to change out of fear. What about us? What if our government made assembling to worship God a crime? Would we start meeting in secret? Though it would not be wrong to do so, that is not what this mighty man of God, Daniel, would do. He would boldly continue doing what he knew was right and trust God, no matter what. The laws of men would not deter his actions or cause him to hide his faith in any way. What an encouragement!

Clearly, prayer was a part of this great man's life! It should be a part of ours, too. Besides Daniel 6:10, which tells us something about the man's prayer habits, some of Daniel's actual prayers are recorded elsewhere (e.g., 2:20-23; 9:4-19). He was truly a man of prayer. Without question, Daniel's prayers were effective. In each case of the prayers we read about in Daniel, God answered in a very positive way. That is because Daniel was not only a man of prayer, but one who was determined to conform his life to the will of God (cf. Dan. 1:8). The Bible clearly teaches there is no use in praying while one is rebelling against God's instructions:

• Proverbs 28:9 - "One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination."
• And also, I Peter 3:10-12, which reminds me so much of Daniel - "He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."

As the rest of Daniel 6 unfolds, it is undeniable that God was with Daniel and against the envious evildoers. Although Daniel ended up in the lion's den unjustly, God spared him that grisly end. May we imitate the prophet Daniel, a great man of prayer!