A Faithful Life Like Daniel's
“1 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”
6 So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. 8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
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.”
Daniel is described as having "an excellent spirit, faithful, and free from negligence or corruption" (Daniel 6:3–4). This evaluation speaks not just to his professional competence but also to his integrity and devotion to God. Daniel’s excellence was not achieved through shortcuts or unethical means. Instead, it reflected a life lived according to God's standards, even within a secular and often hostile environment.
At the core of Daniel’s life was prayer and gratitude. Even when the king’s decree prohibited prayer to anyone but the king, Daniel continued to pray "as he had done before," kneeling three times a day in thanksgiving to God (Daniel 6:10). This daily practice was not merely a ritual but a defining aspect of his identity. Daniel’s primary allegiance was to God, not to his position or earthly authorities, and this loyalty shaped every aspect of his life.
Daniel’s habit of prayer was consistent and central to his character. Habits, though seemingly small, are powerful in shaping our lives and revealing our true priorities. Daniel's unwavering commitment to prayer and gratitude sustained him through changing political regimes, hostile plots, and personal trials. These habits anchored him in his faith and enabled him to stand firm in his identity as a servant of God, no matter the circumstances.
Today, Daniel’s example challenges us to pursue a life of faithfulness and integrity before God. May our habits reflect a deep commitment to Him, revealing His glory in our daily lives. As we incorporate prayer and gratitude into our routines, we too can live steadfastly as God’s people, unshaken by external pressures or changing circumstances.
Prayer: Lord, we thank You for guiding our lives and for the example of faithfulness found in Daniel. Help us to make gratitude and prayer the foundation of our daily lives, anchoring us in Your presence. Teach us to be faithful, diligent, and steadfast, even when no one is watching, so that our lives may glorify You. Use us as Your vessels to reflect Your truth and love to those around us. Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)
Devotional content is available on the Our Daily Bread website.