Private Devotion in a Public World

Good morning. I’m so glad you’re here as we continue our journey through the life of Daniel in our series, "Exiles."

For the last two weeks, we’ve been looking at this incredible figure who lived as a faithful follower of God in the heart of a hostile, pagan culture. In week one, we saw how Daniel, as a teenager, established his core identity. He made a premeditated resolve that he belonged to God, and that his identity was not going to be defined by Babylon, but secured by his God.

Then last week, we fast-forwarded and saw the result of that resolve in his professional life. We looked at his career, which spanned seven decades, and we saw a man of profound competence and unshakeable integrity. We saw how he used his workplace not just as a job, but as a platform for God’s glory, leading two different pagan kings to make declarations about the greatness of the one true God.

But as we look at his life, there's a huge question that hangs in the air. It’s the question of sustainability. How did he do it? How did a man maintain that level of faithfulness, not for a week or a month, but for seventy years? How did he resist the constant, grinding pressure to conform, to compromise, to just get tired and give in? Where did he get the strength?

We live in a world that celebrates the highlight reel. We see the public victories, the successful careers, the polished presentations. But we rarely see the process. We don't see the thousands of hours of training that go into a three-minute Olympic race. We don't see the lonely years of writing that go into a bestselling novel. We see the fruit, but we don't see the root.

Today, we get to look at the root of Daniel’s life. We’re going to pull back the curtain from his public success and look at the private discipline that made it all possible. We’re going to see that Daniel’s public faithfulness was not an accident, nor was it a product of sheer willpower. It was the direct, predictable overflow of a deep and consistent private life of devotion. His story teaches us one of the most vital lessons for any believer in any generation: Public faithfulness is the fruit of a private life rooted in God.

Public faithfulness is the fruit of a private life rooted in God.

The Habit of Devotion (Daniel 6)

The clearest window we get into Daniel's private life is in the middle of his greatest public crisis. We looked at this story last week from the perspective of his integrity, but today I want us to look at it again to see the spiritual habit that his enemies targeted.

You’ll remember the scene from Daniel chapter 6. Daniel is an old man, excelling in his role, and his jealous colleagues can’t find any fault in his work. So, they devise a trap. They convince King Darius to sign an unbreakable decree: for the next thirty days, anyone who prays to any god or man other than the king will be thrown into the lions’ den. They weaponized his devotion.

Now, what does Daniel do when he learns this law has been signed? Look at Daniel 6, verse 10. This is one of the most instructive verses in the whole book.

Daniel 6:10 KJV 1900

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

That last phrase is the key to everything: "as he had done previously." This was not a new, panicked reaction to a crisis. This was a long-established, non-negotiable rhythm of his life. The crisis didn't create the habit; the crisis revealed the habit. Let’s break down what this habit looked like.

The crisis didn't create the habit; it revealed it.

A Deliberate Place and Posture

The text gives us specific details. He went to his house, to his "upper chamber." This was a designated space. It wasn't random. It was a place set apart for meeting with God. And in that place, he had windows that were "open toward Jerusalem."

Why Jerusalem? Because that was the city of God, the place where God had placed His name, the home of the temple. Even though the temple was in ruins, for Daniel, facing Jerusalem was a physical act of remembering. It was a declaration of where his true home was, where his true allegiance lay. It was an act of an exile longing for his king and his kingdom. His posture was also deliberate: "He got down on his knees." This is a posture of humility, of submission, of acknowledging his dependence on a God who was infinitely greater than himself.

For us, the details might be different, but the principle is the same. Do we have a deliberate place and a posture for meeting with God? Do you have a chair, a corner of a room, a time in your commute, where you intentionally turn your heart’s attention toward God? Or is your spiritual life a series of hurried, distracted thoughts on the fly? Daniel’s habit shows us the power of creating intentional space to connect with our Creator.

A Consistent Rhythm

The text says he did this "three times a day." Morning, noon, and night. This was the rhythm of his life. It was as regular as his meals. It was a spiritual breathing that sustained him throughout the day.

This is where many of us struggle. We live in a culture of distraction. The first thing we reach for in the morning is often our phone, not our Bible. Our minds are filled with a constant stream of notifications, emails, and news alerts. The idea of stopping three times a day to intentionally pray can feel like an impossible luxury.

But Daniel was one of the busiest and most powerful men in the world. He had a kingdom to run. His schedule was not empty. He didn't have this habit because he had the time; he made the time because he understood it was the source of his life. He knew that if he was too busy to pray, he was too busy. As Dr. Ironside might say, Daniel recognized that fellowship with God was not a duty to be performed, but a delight to be enjoyed, the very sustenance of his soul.

[ILLUSTRATION PROMPT: When I was President of the Union at work, I led a very hectic life, working full time and still trying to run the Union. Often times, there was never enough time, the phone never stopped ringing, no matter the time of day, as I’m sure Amanda can attest to. I lived by my Google Calendar. Well, believe it or not, I had all sorts of excuses for not setting apart time to read and pray. This grievance needs to be researched, this arbitration brief needs to be written, these calls need to be returned, meeting prep...ect. Finally it got to the point that in order for me to get into a routine, I actually set a reoccurring calendar event with alarm to remind myself of my quiet time. As silly as that sounds, it worked! ]

A Defiant Priority

This is the most stunning part. Daniel maintained his habit even when it was made illegal, even when the cost was a death sentence.

Think of the rationalizations he could have made. He could have said, "God knows my heart. I'll just pray silently while I'm walking." He could have said, "I'll just close the windows for a month. What’s the big deal?" He could have said, "I'm too important to the kingdom. It would be irresponsible for me to risk my life. I can serve God better alive!" All of those arguments sound reasonable.

But Daniel understood that his private devotion was not a negotiable part of his life. It was his highest priority. To stop praying would be to sever his connection to his source of strength. It would be an act of capitulation to Babylon, an admission that the king's decree was more powerful than his relationship with God. So, he kept the windows open. This wasn't an act of arrogant defiance; it was an act of quiet, confident allegiance. He was demonstrating that his primary citizenship was in heaven, and his primary king was God.

His habit of devotion was so central to his life that he would rather face the lions than live without it. What does that say about our own priorities?

His habit was marked by a deliberate place and posture, a consistent rhythm, and a defiant priority.

The Heart of Devotion (Daniel 9)

If chapter 6 shows us the habit of Daniel’s prayer life, chapter 9 shows us its heart. Here, we see another glimpse into his private moments with God, and we see what his prayers were actually like. This isn’t just a quick "thank you for the food" prayer. This is a deep, theological, and heartfelt engagement with God. And it reveals three things about the content and attitude of his devotion.

His Devotion Was Scripture-Fed

Look at the first two verses of Daniel 9. This is the context for his prayer.

Daniel 9:1–2 KJV 1900

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

His prayer didn't begin with his feelings or his circumstances. It began with the Word of God. He was reading the scroll of the prophet Jeremiah. And as he read, the Holy Spirit illuminated the text. He realized that the seventy years of exile that Jeremiah had prophesied were coming to an end.

This discovery is what drove him to his knees. His prayer was a direct response to the promises he read in Scripture. This is such a powerful model for us. So often, our prayers are a laundry list of our own wants and worries. We come to God and we talk at Him. But Daniel shows us a different way. He read God’s Word, he listened, and then he prayed God’s own promises back to Him. His devotion was a dialogue, not a monologue. A rich prayer life is always fed by a rich diet of Scripture.

His Devotion Was Humble and Confessional

After reading God's promise, Daniel's response is not triumphalism. It's not, "Great! Time to pack our bags!" His response is profound humility and confession. Look at verse 4:

Daniel 9:4–5 KJV 1900

And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:

Notice the word "we." Daniel was a man whose integrity was blameless. If anyone had a right to say, "Look at what they did," it was him. But he doesn't do that. He identifies himself with the sin of his people. He says "we have sinned." He owns the corporate failure of his nation. This is the heart of true intercession. It's a humble, broken-hearted plea that doesn't stand in judgment over others, but stands in the gap alongside them.

[ILLUSTRATION PROMPT: The famous playwright, William Shakespeare, once said, ‘A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.’ The essence of Shakespeare’s wisdom offers a light-hearted yet profound reminder that recognizing our own limitations is the first step toward learning humility. Much like how teenagers often think they know everything until their parents drop a little wisdom on them! It goes to the old adage, its amazing how smart my dad got from when was 16 to when i was 24!]

His Devotion Was God-Centered

Finally, look at the basis of his appeal. He doesn't say, "God, you should restore us because we’ve learned our lesson," or "because we’re good people now." He knows they have no merit of their own.

His entire appeal is based on the character and reputation of God. Look at verse 18 and 19:

Daniel 9:18–19 KJV 1900

O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

"For thine own sake, O my God." That is the heart of his prayer. He is asking God to act to vindicate His own name, to uphold His own honor, to be true to His own covenant promises. He appeals not to what he deserves, but to who God is. Now, pause for a second and really think about this. This is a profound theological truth. The ultimate motivation for God’s action in the world is the glory of His own name. And when our prayers align with that ultimate purpose, we are praying on the firmest possible ground.

Daniel’s Prayer was:

Scripture-Fed

Humble and Confessional

God-Centered

The Harvest of Devotion

So what is the result of this kind of private life? What is the harvest that grows from a life rooted in consistent, humble, Scripture-fed prayer? The book of Daniel shows us three clear results.

Supernatural Peace in Crisis

Go back to the lions' den. Daniel is thrown into a pit of hungry predators. This is a terrifying, gruesome way to die. And yet, the next morning, what does the king find? He finds Daniel, completely unharmed. And while the text doesn't describe Daniel's emotional state in the den, we can infer it. There’s a quiet confidence, a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Why? Because he had been practicing the presence of God three times a day for decades. The lions' den was not the first time he had been alone with God in a hostile environment. His prayer chamber had been his training ground. As one pastor said, "The reason Daniel could sleep in the lions' den is because he had been kneeling in his chamber." His private habit of devotion produced a public harvest of peace.

Supernatural Power for Mission

Throughout the book, Daniel operates with a wisdom and insight that baffles the world. He interprets dreams no one else can. He reads handwriting on the wall. He is consistently "ten times better" than his colleagues. Where does this come from?

It comes from his connection to the "God in heaven who reveals mysteries." His public effectiveness was a direct result of his private connection. He didn't just have information; he had revelation. He didn't just have a high IQ; he had divine wisdom. The time he spent on his knees gave him the power and insight he needed to stand for God in the halls of power.

Supernatural Proclamation of God's Name

Finally, and most importantly, the harvest of his private devotion was a powerful public witness. As we saw last week, at the end of both the crisis in chapter 2 and the crisis in chapter 6, a pagan king makes a global declaration about the greatness of Daniel’s God.

His quiet, consistent, private faithfulness resulted in God's name being magnified across the entire known world. This is the ultimate purpose. Our private devotion is not just for our own peace or our own benefit. It is the fuel for our mission as exiles. It is what empowers us to live in such a distinct and excellent way that the world takes notice and gives glory to our Father in heaven.

A private life rooted in God produces supernatural peace, power, and proclamation.

Application

We’ve seen the "how" behind Daniel’s incredible life. It wasn't a secret formula. It wasn't a special spiritual gift. It was a simple, non-negotiable commitment to a private life of devotion.

Think of a massive, ancient oak tree. You see its sprawling branches, its thick trunk, its beautiful leaves. You see it stand firm against the wind and the storms. But the most important part of that tree is the part you don't see. It's the vast, deep, and complex root system hidden beneath the ground. That root system is what draws up the water and nutrients. It's what anchors the tree and gives it the strength to endure. Without the roots, the visible tree would wither and fall in the first storm.

Our public life is the visible tree. Our private life of devotion is the unseen root system. And many of us are trying to live a fruitful Christian life with shallow, withered roots. We wonder why we feel so unstable, why we get blown over by the winds of cultural pressure, why we feel so spiritually dry. It’s because we are neglecting the one thing that gives life and strength.

So, the challenge for us today is not to try harder to be a better person in public. The challenge is to go deeper with God in private. The challenge is to tend to our roots.

I want to close with three very practical questions.

1. What is the honest reality of your private devotional life?

If you were to chart it out—not what you want it to be, not what you think it should be, but what it actually is—what would it look like? Is it consistent or chaotic? Is it intentional or accidental? Is it a source of life or a source of guilt? Let's just be honest with ourselves and with God right now.

2. What is the single biggest obstacle to a more consistent life of devotion for you?

Is it your smartphone? Is it your schedule? Is it a lack of desire? Is it that you just don't know how? Naming the obstacle is the first step to overcoming it.

3. What is one practical, specific step you can take this week to deepen your roots?

Don't say, "I'm going to pray more." That's too vague. Be specific. "This week, I am going to set my alarm 15 minutes earlier, and before I check my phone, I will read one Psalm and pray for five minutes." Or, "This week, during my lunch break, I will turn off the radio and spend that time in prayer." Or, "This week, I will text a friend and ask them to be my prayer partner." One small, achievable step.

Public faithfulness is the fruit of a private life rooted in God. Let’s stop focusing only on the visible branches and start nurturing the unseen roots. Because that is where true, lasting, storm-proof strength is found.

Let's pray.