Conviction Matters

“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” - Daniel 6:10


As we continue to look at the story of Daniel in the lion's den, we turn our focus to the second thing we notice about Daniel. Yesterday, we saw that character counts. Daniel’s character was unimpeachable to the point they had to make a law that denies one the ability to pray to God in order to trip him up.

But Daniel did not succumb to the law. He remained faithful to God. And that brings us to the second thing we notice about Daniel, his conviction mattered. And so does yours. It’s in verse 9 that we see King Darius sign a document that would be a decree unto death to Daniel.

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he freaked out and became paranoid — do you see that in your Bible? You don’t. Do you know why? Because that is not what Daniel did. He heard about the document being signed, went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open towards Jerusalem, got down on his knees three times a day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he had done previously.

So when the decree was signed, Daniel kept doing what Daniel always did, and that is he relied upon God. He was not intimidated by the law. Instead, he held to his convictions. He had always prayed to God, and that was not going to change simply because a new law was created.

If you were in Daniel’s shoes, would you have done the same? We live in a society that though it is not as threatening as Daniel’s, the influence to go against the Bible is great. “If it feels good, just do it,” or, “You have to do what is best for you.” There are so many people giving advice contrary to Biblical teachings. This is why it is so important to both have strong convictions and then stand on those convictions.

Daniel showed us that your convictions matter. And when you stand on those convictions, God will reward you!