Living Faithfully: Integrity, Prayer, and Unwavering Faith

To become the people God calls us to be, we need good examples—living models of faithfulness, integrity, and devotion. We are shaped by the examples around us, both in our daily lives and in the stories of Scripture. Daniel stands out as one of the most powerful positive examples, second only to Jesus himself. His life, especially as seen in Daniel 6, is marked by three virtues: integrity, prayer, and faith. These are not just abstract qualities, but lived realities that shaped Daniel’s witness in a hostile world.

Daniel’s integrity is remarkable. Over six decades, from his youth to his eighties, he consistently chose faithfulness to God over compromise. Even when surrounded by corruption and jealousy, Daniel’s record was spotless—no corruption, no negligence, no omission of duty. His life reminds us that integrity is not just about avoiding wrongdoing, but also about faithfully doing what is right, even when it is costly or inconvenient. This is especially important as we age; our most significant tests of character may come later in life, and God still has purpose and work for us, no matter our age.

Prayer was the heartbeat of Daniel’s life. Even when threatened with death, Daniel would not neglect his daily rhythm of prayer. He prayed openly, not to be seen by others, but as a witness to his ultimate allegiance to God above any earthly authority. Daniel’s prayer life was persistent and honest—he gave thanks, he lamented, he asked for help. He prayed toward Jerusalem, holding onto the promises of God even when he saw no immediate answer. His faithfulness in prayer, even in exile and under threat, is a model for us to keep seeking God, trusting that He hears and will answer in His time.

Finally, Daniel’s faith was unwavering. For decades, he prayed for the restoration of his people, often without seeing results. Yet he did not give up. His faith was not in his own strength, but in the greatness of God—the God who rescues, redeems, and is faithful to His promises. Daniel’s deliverance from the lions ultimately pointed not to his own greatness, but to the greatness of God. Our lives, too, are meant to be signposts to God’s glory, so that others might look at us and say, “Look how great their God is.”

Key Takeaways

• 1. Integrity is more than avoiding wrongdoing; it is the daily, often unseen, commitment to do what is right and fulfill our responsibilities before God and others. Daniel’s life shows that integrity is built over a lifetime, and that our greatest tests may come when we least expect them. We are called to pre-decide the kind of people we will be, so that when the test comes, we are found faithful. [36:28]
• 2. The sins of omission—failing to do the good we know we ought to do—are often more subtle and dangerous than the sins of commission. Daniel’s refusal to neglect his relationship with God, even under threat, challenges us to examine where we might be omitting faithfulness in our own lives. True integrity means not only avoiding evil, but also persistently doing good. [38:46]
• 3. Prayer is not just a private discipline, but a public witness to where our ultimate allegiance lies. Daniel’s open prayer, even when it was dangerous, demonstrated his loyalty to God above all else. In times when faith is under pressure, our visible devotion can be a powerful testimony to those around us. [47:16]
• 4. Faith is often revealed not in dramatic moments, but in the long, patient waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Daniel prayed for decades without seeing the answer, yet he did not give up. Our faithfulness in the waiting seasons—when prayers seem unanswered—can be the greatest evidence of our trust in God’s character and promises. [49:49]
• 5. The ultimate purpose of a life of integrity, prayer, and faith is not to draw attention to ourselves, but to point others to the greatness of God. Daniel’s deliverance led even a pagan king to praise the living God. May our lives, imperfect as they are, cause others to say, “Look how great their God is.” [56:34]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - The Power of Example
• [03:00] - Why We Need Good Examples
• [05:30] - Daniel: A Positive Example
• [08:10] - Three Virtues: Integrity, Prayer, Faith
• [10:30] - Daniel’s Integrity Over a Lifetime
• [13:20] - The Value of Senior Saints
• [15:00] - Integrity in Public Life
• [17:00] - Sins of Omission and Commission
• [19:00] - Daniel’s Prayer Life Under Threat
• [22:00] - The Law of God vs. The Law of Man
• [25:00] - The Depravity of the Lion’s Den
• [28:00] - Public Prayer as Witness
• [31:00] - Faithful Prayer in Exile
• [34:00] - God’s Faithfulness and Our Witness
• [37:00] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
• [39:00] - Community Life and Announcements
• [42:00] - Invitation to Fellowship and Next Week’s Preview

Bible Reading

Daniel 6:1-28 (ESV) — [Read the full chapter together, focusing on Daniel’s life, his integrity, his prayer habits, and his faith in God’s deliverance.]

1 Kings 8:46-52 (ESV) — [Especially verses 48-50, where Solomon prays that God would hear his people’s prayers when they are in exile and pray toward Jerusalem.]

Observation Questions

1. What specific qualities set Daniel apart from the other administrators and made the king want to promote him? ([36:28])
2. According to the story, what did Daniel’s enemies try to use against him, and why did they think this would work? ([40:23])
3. How did Daniel respond when he learned about the new law that made prayer to God illegal? What did he do differently, if anything? ([45:02])
4. When Daniel prayed, what direction did he face and why? What Old Testament event or promise was he remembering? ([48:26])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Daniel’s integrity was so important, especially in his later years? What does this suggest about the value of faithfulness over a lifetime? ([36:28])
2. The sermon mentions “sins of omission” as being subtle and dangerous. In Daniel’s case, what would have been a sin of omission, and why was it so significant? ([38:46])
3. Daniel’s public prayer was risky. What does this say about the relationship between private devotion and public witness? ([47:16])
4. Daniel prayed for decades without seeing the answer to his prayers. What does this teach us about faith and waiting on God’s promises? ([49:49])

Application Questions

1. Daniel “pre-decided” the kind of person he would be, which helped him stay faithful when tested. Have you ever made a decision ahead of time about how you would act in a difficult situation? How did that help you? Is there an area of your life where you need to “pre-decide” to act with integrity? ([36:28])
2. The sermon highlights that “sins of omission”—failing to do the good we know we should—can be just as serious as doing wrong. Is there something good or right you know you should be doing, but have been neglecting? What is one step you can take this week to act on it? ([38:46])
3. Daniel’s prayer life was both persistent and public, even when it was dangerous. What are some ways you can make your faith visible to others—not to show off, but as a witness to your loyalty to God? ([47:16])
4. Have you ever prayed for something for a long time without seeing an answer? How did you keep your faith during that season? Is there a prayer you need to keep bringing to God, even if you haven’t seen results yet? ([49:49])
5. Daniel’s life pointed others to the greatness of God, not to his own greatness. Think of someone in your life who has seen your faith in action. What do you think your life is pointing them toward? Is there anything you want to change so that your life better reflects God’s greatness? ([56:34])
6. The sermon encouraged “senior saints” not to retire from serving God. If you are in a later season of life, what unique ways can you continue to serve and be an example? If you are younger, how can you learn from and honor the faithfulness of older believers? ([36:28])
7. The story ends with a pagan king praising God because of Daniel’s faithfulness. Who in your life might be watching your example? How can you pray for them or encourage them to see God’s greatness through your actions this week? ([56:34])