Most High God, Revealer of Mysteries,
Thank you for being the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Thank you that you have established your laws, your covenants, and your grace to show us what is righteousness and to save us from our sin. Thank you for the deep wisdom and discernment you offer to us through the work of Holy Spirit. God, today we ask that you give each of your children the humility, discernment, tact, and courage of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. When they were abruptly transported to a new world and had to adapt, you gave them grace, wisdom, knowledge and understanding to deal with the new world. Thank you for their model of consistent faith in your laws and your ways. Thank you that, like them, when we say no to the pleasures and "good food" of the world, we can be rewarded with health, wholeness, and even wealth. Thank you that when we refuse to adapt to the worship of other gods, you will be with us in the fires of persecution, keeping us unbound and unharmed from the attacks of the enemy. Thank you for giving us - like Daniel and his friends - knowledge and understanding so that we can know how to learn and operate according to your principles in this new world. As we walk through this chapter of life, we pray you would keep our hearts pure so that we are trustworthy and not negligent or corrupt, we are respectful of authority, but we are asking questions that may bring enlightenment and freedom. Holy Spirit, give us the freedom that comes from living life deeply connected to you, our Wisdom, Courage, and Truth. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6 NIV)
"But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way." (Daniel 1:8 NIV)
"To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds." (Daniel 1:17 NIV)
"When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him." (Daniel 2:14-16 NIV)
"The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.” (Daniel 2:47 NIV)
"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18 NIV)
"He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” (Daniel 3:25-26 NIV)
"At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent." (Daniel 6:4 NIV)
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Cor. 16:17-18 NIV)
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