December 19

Daniel 6:10, 16-19, 21-23

10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously…

16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!" 17 And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions… 21 Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm." 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

Grant, Almighty God,
since we were created and placed in this world by Thee
and are also nourished by Thy bounty for the very
purpose of consecrating our life to Thee –
Grant, I pray, that we may be prepared to live and die to Thee.
May we seek only to maintain the pure and sincere worship
of Thyself.
May we so acquiesce in Thy help as not to hesitate about
breaking through all difficulties, and to offer ourselves
to instant death whenever Thou requirest it.
May we rely not only on Thy promise, which remains
forever, but upon the many proofs that Thou hast
granted us of the present vitality of Thy mighty power.
Mayest Thou be our deliverer in every sense,
whether we live or die;
and may we be blessed in persevering in our confidence
in Thy name and Thy true confession, until at length
we are gathered into Thy heavenly kingdom,
which Thou hast prepared for us by the blood
of Thine only begotten Son. Amen.