RESCUED: "Jesus comes to your rescue." Daniel 6:16

So the administrators and high officers went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?”
“Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.”
Then they told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.” Hearing this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think of a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament. In the evening the men went together to the king and said, “Your Majesty, you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed.”
So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night. Daniel 6:12-18

Prayer:

Come quickly to rescue me, O God! Come quickly to help me, Lord Jesus! Thank You for standing by my side and strengthening my faith to trust in Your almighty power to deliver me from the lion’s mouth according to our Father’s perfect will. Fill my heart with Your perfect love, which casts out all fear, so that I may dare to be like Daniel and inspire my family and friends to trust in Your saving power whenever they face a difficult predicament. I praise and worship You for the awesome miracles You perform for those who place their faith in You. I ask this in Your mighty name, my Lord and Savior. Hosanna [save now]!

Living Truth:

• "But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion." 2 Timothy 4:17
• "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:20-2
• "But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God." Acts 20:24

PRAY: Persist in fervent prayer and give thanks to God." Daniel 6:10

So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” So King Darius signed the law.
But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?” Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” Daniel 6:6-12

Prayer:
Like Daniel, I will run into God's presence, remain unbendable in prayer, and be faithful to Jesus Christ, even if my obedience brings persecution. I realize, Lord God, that the day is coming when believing in Jesus Christ, praying to You, or reading the Bible could be outlawed in the United States. I pray for Christians who are facing intense persecution today in countries such as North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea, Syria, and Nigeria, to name only a few. Please honor their courage, protect their families, and strengthen their faith as they continue to trust in Your faithfulness. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for reminding me that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither my fears for today nor my worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate me from God’s love. No power in the sky above or human power in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate me from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord! My salvation and hope of eternal life are found in Jesus, my Savior. Hallelujah!

FAITHFUL: “Be faithful to God, who honors your trustworthiness.” Daniel 6:4

Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the law of his God.” Daniel 6:4-5

Prayer:
Jesus loved me to the point of death, even death on a cross. I want to follow in Your footsteps, Lord Jesus, and remain faithful to God as Daniel did in a pagan society. Please form in me Your character of unwavering integrity so that I may be responsible and completely trustworthy in everything You entrust to me. When others search for reasons to criticize or accuse me, let them find no fault in my conduct except for my devotion to You. Strengthen my faith, Holy Spirit, so I never compromise my obedience to Christ, and remain faithful to Him even unto death. I ask this in Jesus’ mighty name.

DISTINGUISHED: “God’s Spirit distinguishes you among others.” Daniel 6:3

Now it pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, and over them three administrators, including Daniel, to whom these satraps were accountable so that the king would not suffer loss. Soon, by his extraordinary spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps. So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Daniel 6:1-3

Prayer:
Less like me and more like Jesus! My heart rejoices, Heavenly Father, to see how You choose ordinary people, those the world rejects or despises, and transform them into distinguished servants who stand out from the crowd. I am who I am because of the boundless love and unmerited favor You have freely given me through Christ, my Savior. Fill me, Holy Spirit, with the virtues of Jesus Christ, so I may be a faithful and distinguished instrument God uses to point the forgotten, despised, and brokenhearted to faith in Jesus. I ask this in His mighty name.

CLOTHED: "God has clothed you with a robe of of Christ's righteousness." Daniel 5:29

Then, at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third-highest ruler in the kingdom. Daniel 5:24-29

Prayer:
As I read this wonderful passage of Scripture, my heart greatly rejoices in You, LORD God, and my soul delights in You, for through Christ Jesus You have clothed me with garments of salvation and the robe of His righteousness. I praise and thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving a sinner like me and removing my filthy garments of sin and shame. Just as God honored Daniel for remaining faithful to Him in a corrupt kingdom, may my life bring honor to You for all the great things You have done for me. Holy Spirit, fill me with courage and strengthen my devotion so I may remain faithful to Christ until the end of my days on earth. I ask in Jesus' mighty name.

Infallible Truth:

• The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Revelation 3:5
• Then he showed me Joshua, the chief priest, standing before the Lord's messenger. Satan the Accuser was standing at Joshua’s right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, “I, the Lord, silence you, Satan! I, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, silence you! Isn’t this man like a burning log snatched from a fire?” Joshua was wearing filthy clothes and was standing in front of the Messenger. The Messenger said to those who were standing in front of him, “Remove Joshua’s filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken your sin away from you, and I will dress you in fine clothing.” Zechariah 3:1-4

LIFE: “Honor God who gives you the breath of life!” Daniel 5:23

“But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. For you have proudly defied the Lord of heaven and have had these cups from His temple brought before you. You and your nobles and your wives and concubines have been drinking wine from them while praising gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor know anything at all. But you have not honored the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny! Daniel 5:23

Prayer:
I am mindful, Lord of Heaven, that my life is a precious gift from You, not to be squandered, misused, or lived in ways that dishonor You, as foolish king Belshazzar did. Teach me, Lord Jesus, to embrace Your humility, remembering that the 17,000-plus breaths I take each day are precious gifts from God, who holds my life and destiny in His hands. May every breath I take reflect my dependence on You and every choice I make bring praise, honor, and glory to Your holy name!

FAITH: “Never compromise your faith in Jesus for worldly rewards.” Daniel 5:17

So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles brought from Judah by my predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar? I have heard that you have the spirit of the gods within you and that you are filled with insight, understanding, and wisdom. My wise men and enchanters have tried to read the words on the wall and tell me their meaning, but they cannot do it. I am told that you can give interpretations and solve difficult problems. If you can read these words and tell me their meaning, you will be clothed in purple robes of royal honor, and you will have a gold chain placed around your neck. You will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” Daniel answered the king, “Keep your gifts or give them to someone else, but I will tell you what the writing means. Daniel 5:13-17

Prayer:
My faith in You, Lord Jesus, is not for sale. No amount of wealth, fame, or worldly power is worth compromising my integrity and devotion to You and our Heavenly Father. Like Daniel, give me the courage to stand firm in Your truth and seek Your approval above the praise of others. Holy Spirit, strengthen my faith against the devil’s deceptive temptations, just as our Messiah stood firm in the wilderness. Lead me today to someone who is compromising their faith for worldly fame or gain, struggling to do what is good and acceptable in God's eyes. Use me to lovingly encourage them to repent of their sins and choose Jesus, our Savior, rather than the fleeting trinkets of this world. I ask this in His mighty name. Amen.