What role does prayer play in overcoming obstacles, as seen in Daniel 6:15? Setting the scene “Then the men approached the king and said to him, ‘Remember, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians cannot be repealed: No decree or statute the king establishes can be altered.’” (Daniel 6:15) The seemingly immovable obstacle • A royal statute—unchangeable by human hands • A king trapped by his own signature • A righteous man sentenced for a righteous habit: prayer Daniel’s response: prayer that would not bend • He prayed “just as he had done before” (6:10). No panic, no pause. • His open-window posture declared loyalty to the Lord above earthly power. • Prayer framed his day—three times—so the crisis found him already anchored. What prayer accomplished in this story 1. Re-centers the heart on God’s sovereignty ‑ Even an irrevocable empire law bows to the God “who removes kings and establishes them” (Daniel 2:21). 2. Invites divine intervention beyond human reach ‑ Angels shut the lions’ mouths (6:22). Prayer unlocked a miracle no edict could forbid. 3. Sustains courage amid intimidation ‑ “The righteous are as bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1). Daniel’s calm came from communion, not self-confidence. 4. Bears witness to onlookers ‑ Darius spent a sleepless night fasting (6:18) and later confessed, “He is the living God” (6:26). Daniel’s prayer life evangelized a king. 5. Transforms the obstacle into a platform for God’s glory ‑ The same law meant to silence prayer became the catalyst for a kingdom-wide proclamation of God’s power (6:25-27). Supporting Scriptures on prayer overcoming obstacles • Psalm 34:17 — “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles.” • Philippians 4:6-7 — “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” • James 5:16 — “The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.” • Acts 12:5-7 — While the church prayed, chains fell off Peter’s wrists and prison doors opened. • 2 Chronicles 20:12, 15 — Jehoshaphat’s prayer led to the Lord’s assurance: “the battle is not yours, but God’s.” Practical takeaways • Pray pre-emptively, not merely reactively; consistent fellowship readies the heart when crises strike. • Keep prayer public enough to testify, yet humble enough to honor God, not self. • Trust God’s timeline; the lions’ den came before the deliverance. Faith waits through the night. • Remember that opposition often confirms you are standing where God wants you. • Expect God to turn obstacles into opportunities for His name to be exalted. Summary Daniel 6:15 spotlights an ironclad law that cornered a faithful man. Prayer neither avoided the obstacle nor erased it; instead, prayer ushered in divine authority that overruled human authority. In every age, prayer remains God’s ordained means for His people to face—and overcome—the impossible. |
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