Say Yes to God

God can use the man who is willing to be obedient. It’s simple: listen and obey.

The confirmation of this reality is all over the pages of the Bible. Especially Daniel.

Daniel was a Jewish young man from Judah’s nobility. He was taken captive to Babylon around 605 BC. This occurred when King Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem. He was selected for training to serve in the Babylonian royal court. His friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were also chosen. They were picked because of their intelligence, appearance, and aptitude (Daniel 1:3-6).

Throughout his long life, Daniel consistently demonstrated extraordinary obedience. He showed unwavering loyalty to God, even when it directly threatened his life and career.

Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the king’s rich food and wine, which violated Jewish dietary laws. Instead, he asked for vegetables and water. God blessed him and his friends with superior health and wisdom (Daniel 1:8-17).

More importantly, Daniel developed a disciplined life of prayer. We know that he prayed three times a day. He gave thanks to God and knelt in front of his open window facing toward Jerusalem. This was not a casual habit. It was a deliberate act of worship. It served as a remembrance of God’s covenant promises, even while living in a pagan empire.

By the time Darius ruled, Daniel was well over 80 years old. He had risen to one of the three highest positions in the kingdom. King Darius even planned to set him over the entire realm because “an excellent spirit was in him” (Daniel 6:3).

This provoked jealousy among the other high officials. They looked for any corruption or failure in Daniel but could find none—he was completely faithful and honest. Their only choice was to attack him based on his faith.

They deceived King Darius into signing an irrevocable decree. For the next 30 days, anyone praying to or worshiping a god or human being, other than the king, would face dire consequences. They would be thrown into a den of lions (Daniel 6:6-9). This was a deliberate trap designed to exploit Daniel’s known devotion to God.

As soon as Daniel learned that the decree had been signed, he went home, opened his windows toward Jerusalem as usual, knelt down, and prayed and gave thanks to God three times that day—just as he had always done (Daniel 6:10).

He did not hide.
He did not reduce his prayers to whispers.
He did not compromise even slightly.

Daniel chose open, defiant obedience to God over self-preservation and obedience to an unjust human law. He knew the consequence was almost certain death. Yet, he considered faithfulness to God more important than his position, his reputation, or even his life.

Daniel was arrested. The king was deeply distressed and attempted to find a legal loophole. However, the law could not be changed. Daniel was thrown into the den of lions. The king spent a sleepless night fasting and, at dawn, ran to the den and called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” (Daniel 6:20).

Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 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 done any wrong before you, Your Majesty” (Daniel 6:21-22).

God miraculously preserved Daniel all night. When he was lifted out unharmed, King Darius threw the schemers and their families into the den instead, and the lions quickly crushed them.

Darius issued a new decree that in every part of his kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel, “for he is the living God and he endures forever… He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions” (Daniel 6:26-27).

Daniel’s conviction was unwavering. He believed that prayer and worship belong to God alone, no matter what an earthly ruler demands. This conviction became one of the greatest testimonies in Scripture of courageous faith under pressure.

When a man yields himself to God with complete obedience, God can do great things through him. The God who shut the lions’ mouths is still capable of delivering those who stand firm for Him.