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Daniel in the lion's den

by Janelle Goodwin  
5/15/2013 / Education

Daniel in the Lion's Den our need for meditation, the key to our minds

Bible Story
When Daniel was a young boy the king made a special request for Daniel and his friend to train in the palace with the king. Training in the palace was a very special treat for Daniel. Only the smart kids were allowed to learn in the king's palace. Daniel knew in his heart God had a special purpose for this training. Daniel wanted to follow the plan God had for his life. It was very important for Daniel to listen to God. Daniel made the decision right then to have a close friendship with God. In order to be close friends with God, Daniel made sure to spend time in prayer with God everyday. When Daniel prayed to God, he talked to God. Daniel was able to tell God everything that was happening while he was training in the palace. Also, during this time of prayer, God spoke to Daniel's heart. God had many important things that He needed to tell Daniel. Daniel's choice to pray everyday was a very wise decision. As Daniel spent time in the king's palace he became even smarter and closer to God. The king realized that there was something very special about Daniel. The king knew Daniel was different than all of the other kids that came to learn in the palace.
King Darius wanted the best for Daniel, so he put Daniel in power over the kingdom. Not everyone liked Daniel being in charge because he was so young. There were some men who were mad at Daniel. These men did not like Daniel ruling over them. They decided to stop Daniel from being in charge over them. One day the men decided to follow Daniel. The men needed to find something evil against Daniel to report back to King Darius. But Daniel was a very good man. It was going to be hard for the men to find something bad about Daniel. The only bad thing the men found was Daniel's special friendship with God. The men did not like Daniel praying to God everyday. The men made an evil plan against Daniel to hurt Daniel. They believed Daniel showed disrespect to King Darius by putting God first. The bad men believed King Darius deserved everyone's attention. They told the king how special everyone thought he was. These men told the king they wanted a new law. These men made a new law that no one could bow or pray to any other god. The people were only allowed to worship King Darius. If the people did not obey this law they would be thrown into a cave with hungry lions. This law pleased King Darius very much. The king loved the idea of having everyone's attention on him. So, King Darius signed the law.
The next day the bad men were walking around the kingdom when they spotted Daniel praying to God. These men went to the king immediately to tell King Darius that Daniel did not obey the new law. The king was so sad when he heard this news. King Darius knew this new law was a mistake. It was wrong for King Darius to make a law that made people stop praying to God. It was not right for King Darius to make people worship him above God. The men wanted Daniel to be punished for disobeying King Darius. The punishment for disobeying the law was to be put in the cave with the hungry lions. The king wanted to save Daniel from the lion's den. But there was no way to change the law now. Daniel had to go to the cave with the hungry lions. Nighttime came and it was time for Daniel to go to the lion's den. As the king directed Daniel to the cave, King Darius told Daniel he was sorry about having to put Daniel in the cave with the hungry lions. King Darius told Daniel he believed that Daniel's faith in God would save Daniel from being eaten by the hungry lions.
King Darius walked back to the palace. He worried about Daniel all night. King Darius did not like the thought of Daniel being in the lion's den. He tossed and turned and did not get much sleep. Then, just as the sun came up the next morning King Darius jumped up out of bed, he wanted to check on Daniel right away. He could hardly wait to see Daniel. King Darius rushed to change his clothes. There was no time to eat breakfast. The king just left his servants and ran to the cave where he left Daniel with the lions. King Darius knew that God had saved Daniel from being eaten by the lions. King Darius commanded the guards to move the stone door from the cave. The king began yelling for Daniel; "Daniel, Daniel, I know you're there? I know you're still alive? Daniel, I know your God saved you? Daniel, where are you?" Then Daniel walked out of the dark cave unharmed. Daniel said, "King, have no fear, I prayed to my God all night long. He sent angels down to shut the mouths of the lions. The lions did not harm me. My God delivered me from the hungry lions."
While Daniel was praying in the lion's den, God showed Daniel that the bad men had tricked King Darius into making the new law. Daniel knew it was the bad men wanting to harm Daniel, not the king. King Darius was very upset that these men had tricked him. The king commanded that the bad men and all their families be thrown into the cave with the hungry lions. King Darius made a new law that all the people need to serve the same God that Daniel served. And everyone needed to learn to pray to God just like Daniel did.

Lesson
Daniel learned very early to have a special friendship with God. Just like Daniel, we need to have a close friendship with God. He wants to be your best friend. God loves us very much. He wants us to spend time with Him every day. God wants to be first in your life. Our time with God is called a quiet time. It is a time where we can read our Bible and pray every day. As we do our quiet time and spend more time with God each day we will begin to grow into the beautiful person that God created us to be. God has a special plan for our lives. The only way to know what God wants from us is to spend time with Him each day.
Praying to God is just like talking to your parents. You tell your parents about the things that happened during the day. Tell God the things that make you happy or what makes you sad. God is our Heavenly Father and wants us to talk to Him in the same manner. God wants to about you. He likes to know what things that are bothering you. God wants to help you when you need it. He wants to be your friend. It is very important for us to pray to God everyday.
We can read the bible everyday to learn the stories of God. We know that God will always take care of us in each situation of our lives. Knowing God helps us to become close friends with Him. God has given us the bible so that we can learn about Him. The Bible is a wonderful book that tells us everything we need to know about God. There are so many interesting stories and encouraging words to help us grow into the special person that God wants us to be. Just like Daniel found himself in the lion's den, he prayed to God to protect him from the hungry lion's, we can learn that we can pray everyday for God's protection from the mean people that want to hurt us.
Life Application
Do you ever pray? Do you talk to God? Do you read His word? Have you heard about the stories that can help you each day? Do you spend a special time with God everyday so that you can have a special friendship with Him? If you have not been spending some time with God each day, now is a great time to start. Just begin by thanking God each morning that you wake up. Ask God to help you during the day to make the right choices. Ask God to protect you and each of your family members and friends. Then, at each meal thank God that He has provided food for you to eat. Let God know that you care that He loves you enough to meet your needs. When you put on your clothes tell God thank you that you have clothes to wear and shoes to protect your feet. Each night that you get ready for bed, let God know that you are thankful for keeping you safe during the day. Ask for God to keep you, your family, and your friends safe during the night. Let your bedtime story be one about God. Spend time learning about Him. Read the bible or a bible story book before you go to sleep each night.

Lady of Virtue Ministries started as Janelle Goodwin attended Bible College in upstate NY. Janelle became burdened to see souls saved from eternal condemnation. Upon returning home from Bible College, she also became burdened to see women of the world develop characteristics of a Proverbs 31

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