One of the things that makes us stronger followers of Jesus is practice. We are not born faithful and we learn faithfulness by doing. We learn to be regular in prayer and in Bible reading. We learn to be faithful in gathering for worship. And we learn to be better at serving others in our community. God likes this kind of regularity because it demonstrates that we are devoted to loving and serving Him. A good example for us in the Old Testament is a person named Daniel. Let's listen to a passage that highlights Daniel's faithfulness:

So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said,  "Long live King Darius! We are all in agreement…that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed…" So King Darius signed the law. But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. (Daniel 6:6-10)

In the chapters leading up to today’s verses, we learn that Daniel had always remained faithful, even though he had been abducted, imprisoned on false charges, and treated terribly by people he had helped. He had risen to become an important person in the Babylonian empire. In fact, just a few verses earlier in chapter 6, we learn that King Darius had “planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom.” The commissioners and administrators didn't like that, so as today’s scripture reveals, they came up with a scheme. Everyone knew that Daniel was regular in prayer. So they drew up a document proclaiming “King Darius Month.” Anyone who worshiped anyone other than King Darius for the next thirty days would be thrown into a den of lions. King Darius read it and thought, “Hey, that's a great idea!” and signed the document. And how did Daniel respond to this plot? Let's listen to it again: “But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.” How about that! Daniel didn't freak out. And he didn't ask God to change his situation. Instead, he did what he always did. He prayed and gave thanks, not just once but three times a day—and he didn't even close the windows! Daniel was thankful and he was faithful in prayer.

Today, I encourage you to follow his example. Whatever happens to you in life, God will always be worthy of our thanks and praise. He will always be faithful to you and to me...and that is very Good News!