What would you do if you were told you could no longer pray to God? And if you did? You would be killed — by ravenous lions. It’s an extreme situation to imagine, but that’s exactly what happened to Daniel. Local officials were threatened by Daniel’s abilities, favor with the king, and growing power, so they advised King Darius to put a law in place prohibiting prayer to anyone besides him. The leaders did this knowing that Daniel was loyal to Yahweh, the one true God of Israel.
While most of us live in places where we enjoy immense religious freedoms, we can all relate to circumstances coming our way that we can’t predict, control, or change. That’s where Daniel found himself. And he had a choice: he could concede to the new law of the land to ensure his own safety, he could run away from the place God had called him to serve, or He could trust God’s goodness and power over man’s.
What an encouragement to read what Daniel chose:
“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.”
Daniel 6:10-11
Daniel was a man of prayer. A person who sought God at all times — regularly when life felt manageable and faithfully when life seemed impossible.
It’s definitely worth your time to read all of Daniel chapter 6 and see what happened after the officials caught Daniel defying the new law and how God came through for Him in a miraculous way! But for today, right now, let this story be a reminder to pray. Whatever feels like it might overwhelm you, crush you, be the end of you . . . start there.
Thank God for who He is and ask Him for the help only He can give.
We’d be honored to come alongside you in the comments.
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I attend church every Sunday. I desire to be a member of a church where I can flourish and grow in the word of God with a community of belivers.
Angela,
Abba Father Please guide Angela & family to a church where she can flourish & grow in her faith. One with a community of believers who love each other. AMEN!
This could not be more timely as I sit here wiping away my tears. I am overwhelmed. It seems things keep going wrong, two steps forward and one step back. I am a mess this morning. I don’t even know where to begin. It is Sunday morning so time to get prepared for worship. Thankfully.
I am praying for you, Madeline.
Oh Madeline. I am so sorry you are struggling right now. I shall be praying for you today for God to show up unexpectedly in a way that brings you comfort and hope and makes you feel safe. giving you a virtual hug (i hope that’s ok).
ps – is this the Madeline that was hoping to move to ME the same time as me last year? Did you make it back here to ME? i was indeed hearing God correctly in moving here and I arrived in July. I now live in Gorham. my email is adon74@gmail.com if you ever want to reach out.
Madeline,
Father Send your comfort & peace to Madeline today. Take away her overwhelming feeling. Show her where to begin to make sense of these trials. Give her peace & comfort as she awaits your timing.
Blessings 🙂
I am praying for you as well, Madeline.
I am praying for all of you. I too feel overwhelmed and so lost. So many things weighing heavy on my heart. Praying God will hear my cries!
I am praying for you, Kim. I can so relate. May God bless you with His wonderful comfort and give you peace. He can and He will!
We serve an awesome God! He will never leave us or forsake us.
Pause, praise and pray.
I’m praying for all of you. I also need prayer please. I love the Lord. I am 76. I recently fell and broke the femur of my right hip. I spent 3 weeks in the hospital and rehab. I came home yesterday Praise God! I also suffer seasons of depression and anxiety. Thank you for your prayers and God bless you all!
I am praying for your complete healing, physically and with your depression and anxiety seasons. May God wrap you up in the comfort of His loving arms and give you joy and peace always. May you be showered with blessings from our Heavenly Father, and sending you a big get well hug from me!
Donna,
Jesus thank you for healing Donna’s right femur. Take away any depression & anxiety she may have. Give her your peace & comfort. Guide her steps on this journey.
Blessings 🙂
I don’t even have tears anymore. Everything seems hopeless.
Oh, Dear Gwen, I am so sorry that You are feeling hopeless. I have been there too…I am praying and asking God to bless you with strength and courage and hope. Please don’t give up. God is bigger, stronger, and more powerful than any problem or challenge we face! Hugs and love
Gwen, I don’t know what you’re going thru or why you feel so hopeless. My heart hurts for you that you’re in such pain! But God knows everything and His heart hurts for you, also. I pray you feel His arms around you because the Bible says God is near to the broken-hearted and He wants to help you thru this.
His Word is truth and He has great plans for you that go beyond your current situation.
Romans 15:13 is one of my favorite verses that I try to remember to pray daily.. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
I pray this week you can lean on God’s power and see how He can refill you with His hope!
Sending hugs your way, Gwen! God loves you!
Amen and loved your reply to Gwen, Mary Ann! What comforting and uplifting words for all of us! Thank You!
Thank you! God is so good!
I’m praying for you Gwen, may the Lord restore hope to you again. I have been where you are and I understand. And God is faithful always and never fails. The Lord knows and understands right where you are and He loves you greatly!
Gwen,
God please rush to Gwen now. Help her to feel you surrounding her with your loving arms. Give her a huge dose of hope & peace. Send people to encourage & strengthen her. Make it known to her that she is loved by Jesus & others here.
AMEN!
My word of the year is trust and this is a lovely story to ponder today. Today I pray for healing from a loss. I know God has a redemption plan and I just can’t fully see it yet. I want to be faithful in bringing my burdens and sadness to him and allowing him to work in ways only he can.
I am praying for all of you dear ladies who have commented this morning. I so understand depression and anxiety and fear. God cares so deeply and loves us with such a great love. Surrender all to Him, look up and thank Him! Give it all to Him and don’t take it back!! HE HEARS, HE CARES, And HE IS THERE! Praise His Most Holy Name…Amen.
Lifting you all in prayer. And I too need your prayers. I am dealing with a situation that is causing me great anxiety and anger and fear. I feel like Thomas, the doubting apostle. Pray that I will have peace, trust, and a healthy outcome to this situation. And that I will be able to forgive the handling of this situation by others as I am forgiven by Our Father – not doing well there either. Thank you all. And know that I will continue to hold you in my prayers.
I’m praying for you Paula, the Lord sees you and hears you. May He encourage your heart and be the Lifter of your head!
I am praying for you…I know that God will help you through this. We don’t always understand, but God does. Galatians 6: 17
From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord, Jesus.
This must be God’s perfect timing! I was reminded of Daniel earlier this week and have started the habit of closing the door to my office 3 times a day while I kneel and pray for God’s help. I have a stressful job and I do pray often but I know this regular habit will make a big difference for me and also for those around me that I want to influence for Christ.
Please pray I will be diligent to continue. Thank you!
Mary Ann: you inspired me. I am going to do this. Bless you.
Being a part of these comments and prayers for each other, has been such a blessing to me this morning. We are earthly strangers, but praise God, we are Heavenly Sisters! May God’s Radiance always light your way!
I love you all in heart and thought!
“We are earthly strangers, but praise God, we are Heavenly Sisters!”
Kathy!! THAT is beautiful! Thank you for praying over all of these requests and for serving as such an encourager <3.
Thank you so much, Robin! You just gave my day such an uplift! I think God brought each and everyone of us together today!
“We may never do a great thing, but we can do small things with great love!” Blessings, dear Sister!
I’m astonished that I still have tears left to cry. I feel like I should have run dry by now. Everyday feels like fresh heartbreak and overwhelming grief. I’m trying to hold onto faith but I’m starting to wonder if I have any left. I feel so alone in this relentless storm.
((Sara))
You aren’t alone. You aren’t alone. You aren’t alone….
Tears continue to fall because your heartache and grief are still present. Tears are a pressure valve for the brokenhearted.
Where you are right now isn’t where you’ll be forever. You are seen, known, and loved. Don’t trust your feelings right now, but trust in what you know of God and His word. I’m praying for your faith to be sustained and for God to reveal Himself to you.
In Courage,
Dec. 2021 God changed my job from part-time to full-time benefitted in ICU Covid unit. I was happy & blessed that God would do that for me. Last fall that job changed drastically from clerical work to stocking 28 ICU rooms. I made some mistakes & have suffered some & am not happy anymore. Had depressive thoughts, but knew that God & hubby loved me & I was here for a reason. Need a different job.
Prayers for everyone here. May God give you a discerning heart to know His will for your lives. Asking for peace & comfort for those who mourn & are going through trials.
Blessings 🙂
Our family needs your help to heal the brokenness in our family. I ask that the healing power of Jesus answers my prayer.
God, our Father, I pray for J and that you will heal the brokenness in her family. Please give J comfort in this situation.
My Momma heart is just broken right now. I have a 22 year old daughter who has decided I have ruined her life, she hates me, she is moving out and is never to return. She thinks I don’t love her or want her. There is a long history for her. Today, I told her despite the fact that I love her wholeheartedly, I agree it is time that she leave our home (after her repeatedly disrespecting, saying ruined life, saying I say horrible things to her and much more, none of which is true. This started when she was asked to do her one kitchen chores and clean her room) and be her own adult. She could live how she wanted in her place but was not going to trash our home. I told her I would always love her, want her, she was always welcome to visit. This is hard as I have no idea where she will go, she is not talking to me as I am the worst thing that ever happened to her. I’m scared for her and my heart aches. I know as she matures, God will fix the relationship. Sadly she has also turned away from God completely. I don’t even know what I need prayer for, there is just too much. I’m overwhelmed, hurt, angry, just a bit of everything right now.
Lori, I am praying that God will give your daughter the wisdom see how much you love her. I don’t have children so I can’t imagine the pain you must feel. My mom and I had a rough patch many decades ago and it was mostly my doing. We worked through it and she became my very best friend. I pray this happens for you. And I will pray that your daughter sees your love and returns to God.
Thank you so much.
What a great reminder to stop and ask
God for help! I have to decide in about two and a half hours which realtor I am going to use to sell my house. I have had three similar valuations and I don’t know who to choose. I am 75 next month and single and the whole process of packing, decluttering etc is quite overwhelming.
Would love your prayer support and any tips you have for this process! God has done a miracle in giving me a retirement unit to move into but I need a good price for this home to be able to pay off my mortgage and pay for my new unit.
I will be praying as soon as I finish this! Thank you for caring!
Please keep my mama Linda and me AmaTHa in your prayers. We are still in a valley of uncertainty. I’ve been struggling with fear and depression.
Holy Father please guide and direct Linda and Amatha. Calm their fears with your overwhelming love – Zephaniah 3:17 ❤️
Pray the surgeon will do decide to do surgery on my hernia.
Please holy Father bring healing to Leanne’s body in Your mighty way. Amen
Grief, fear, worry and uncertainty overwhelm me. I need prayer. I just started my 5th different job in the last 3 years and it’s been a challenge. We moved and in the last 16 months that we’ve been in our new location, it’s the 3rd different job. Being weary is an understatement and I’ve grown numb and resigned I think. I’m thankful, I truly am, but much healing (emotional, spiritual and financial) still needs to occur. I grateful appreciate your prayers for guidance, wisdom, peace, joy and favor.