This story is featured in a collection of Bible stories for kids called Pray without Ceasing: Bible Stories for Kids about Prayer.
Daniel Prays Every Day
Daniel 6
After the Jews were conquered by the Babylonians, they were forced to live away from their home. It was not easy to continue to worship God, and some of them had to do so in secret.
As you read this story, pay attention to the reason Daniel is punished by the king.
King Darius appointed three men to preside over Babylon. Among these men was a Jew named Daniel. Daniel was very successful, but the other two men became jealous. They sought to kill him.
They followed Daniel and saw him praying to God regularly, three times a day, every day. So the other two men persuaded the king to write a law in the kingdom that no one should worship any God but the king of Babylon.
King Darius was very pleased with Daniel’s work, so when Daniel was accused of praying to the God of Israel, he was greatly saddened. He did not want to punish Daniel, but there was no way for him to change the law now that it was written.
In sadness, he had Daniel thrown into a lions’ den to be killed and eaten. “May your God, whom you faithfully serve, save you!” he said as they rolled a stone over the entrance to the den.
The king went and fasted that evening and barely slept at all. As soon as the sun rose, he got up and hurried to the lions’ den. He cried out, “O Daniel, has your God saved you from the lions?”
Then he heard Daniel’s voice, “O king, live forever! My God has sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths. They did not hurt me, because I was found blameless before God and before you. I have done no wrong.”
The king was filled with joy. He made a new decree that all in the land should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, “for he is the living God, enduring forever. His kingdom shall never be destroyed.”
Daniel and the Lion’s Den Reflection Questions
- Why was Daniel sentenced to death?
- Daniel prayed three times a day, every day. How can you find a regular time to pray each day?
- When do you have opportunities to pray in public, even if it makes other people uncomfortable?
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