Daniel 6:18

Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

Daniel was taken before the king and then he was put down in the lion’s den. That doesn’t sound like God is answering prayer. The man is still in the den. But that isn’t the end of this story. After King Darius sent him away, he was disturbed because he liked Daniel. However, there was nothing the King could do. He couldn’t even violate his own law. Have you ever been in a situation where there isn’t anything you can do and there isn’t anything anybody else can do. The ones that started it can’t get you out of it.

All night long, the king was walking the floor; he couldn’t sleep. If you have a strong prayer life, this is what your enemies are doing. While you are trying to figure them out, God has them upset; God has your enemies where they can’t sleep at night. They have lobster and crab, but they can’t eat a bite. They aren’t enjoying the music. King Darius was fasting. Isn’t that something? God will work on both ends. Daniel is in the den with hungry lions. The authorities placed a heavy stone over the door. But the lions are just lying there. Daniel stretched out on one lion while the other lion used his tail to fan the flies off Daniel.

Before you ask God for something, thank him for it. That’s the way we do when we get ready to eat. We haven’t even seen the food yet, but we say, “Lord we thank you for the food we are about to receive.” If you want a blessing from God, you should before you ask him for it, say, “Now Lord, I’ve got something in mind and before I make my request I want to tell you thank you for it.” Let me tell you why you should say thank you-because you will receive more from God with a grateful heart than you do with a begging heart. If you learn how to tell him thank you for the little bit you do have, God knows how to make it more.