Patti Burris

Daniel 6:6-12

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put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”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. ¹¹ Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. ¹² So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

Obedience to God is not always an easy thing. Standing firm in your faith can come with a price tag. Daniel didn’t waver in his faith in God. As soon as he heard that the decree had been published, he went home and prayed. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to God, just as he had always done. He didn’t quit praying when he heard about the decree. He obeyed God, regardless of the consequences. When the King’s men found Daniel praying, they took him to King Darius, who had no choice but to throw him in the lion’s den.

Daniel 6:19-23

¹⁹ At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den.²⁰ When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” ²¹ Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! ²² My God sent his angel,and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” ²³ The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

God sent His angel to shut the mouths of the lions, because Daniel had faith in God and obeyed God’s commands. Even today, we are faced with situations that cause us to disobey God. Society pressures us to do things that are against God and many times there are consequences for not having the faith to stand firm. Drinking, drugs, sex, hanging out with people who don’t share your values or belief in God, having a job that compromises your values or doesn’t allow you time to attend worship services on Sundays; these are only a few examples of situations in our lives that cause us to disobey God. Each one comes with it’s own set of consequences, but the biggest consequence is becoming separated from God. If Daniel had obeyed the King’s decree, he would have found himself separated from God. There is a deep agony in separation. There is despair and hopelessness that only communion with God can overcome. Daniel had that heart connection with God and he knew that life was not worth living without God. Daniel trusted God with his life and so he obeyed and prayed.

What situation are you facing today that is threatening to separate you from God? Are you willing to stand firm in your faith and trust God with the outcome? Are you willing to walk away from friends, a job, a relationship, to obey God? Are you willing to follow the example of Daniel, even when society is pressuring you to do something else? Are you willing to obey God to maintain that heart connection with Him?

Trusting God can be scary and downright terrifying at times. I encourage you to seek Him always. I encourage you to be like Daniel, who immediately went home to pray upon hearing of the decree. If you are facing a situation that is asking you to compromise your relationship with God, go to Him and ask Him to help you. God can and will shut the mouths of lions, even today. Don’t allow society to break that heart connection you have with God. The hopelessness of a life without God simply isn’t worth it.