Daniel is probably my favorite non-God Bible character in all the Bible. Enslaved to serve a wicked king in a foreign land, threatened by plotting men, and once tossed into a den of hungry lions, Daniel’s calm, wisdom, skill and devotion direct people’s eyes straight to God.

My family just finished reading through Daniel, and I noticed five keys about his prayer life. I want to learn from them all.

He chose prayer over panic (Daniel 2:18). He pled for mercy and did not panic, in spite of his dire circumstances. There is a direct correlation between Daniel’s devoted prayer life and his ability to not flip out. He chose prayer over panic.

He said, “Thank you” (Daniel 2:20; 6:10). Has God ever answered your prayer, but you completely forgot to thank him? Daniel’s thankful recognition of God reveals that he was dependent upon God in the bad times and the good times.

He was disciplined (Daniel 6:10). Out of fear of legalism, have you dismissed discipline? It’s possible to exhibit grace to yourself and others, while still embracing a disciplined life of prayer. A lack of discipline reflects a lack of commitment (in finances, football and prayer).

Three times a day, Daniel opened his windows, got on his knees and prayed.

He confessed on behalf of his people (Daniel 9:4-19). He was not the one rebelling against God, but you would never know it by his confessional prayers. The people’s sins were his problem, and he pled with God for forgiveness.

He approached God with humility (Daniel 9:18). I love Daniel’s recognition of who he was and who God is. He prayed, “We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.”

Ever acted like God owed you something?

While Daniel recognized that God had no obligation to listen to him, God did listen quickly to Daniel. In chapter 9, the text says that God did so, because Daniel was highly esteemed (Daniel 9:23). In fact, an answer was given to Daniel as soon as the prayer was leaving his lips. Daniel 10:12 says, “Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.”

The paradox is that God responded immediately to Daniel, because Daniel rightly recognized that he never deserved God’s response.

I have a lot to learn from Daniel. I want to pray like him. And I want to live like him.

Has anything else in Daniel’s prayer life stood out to you?