Note his acknowledgment of God as his deliverer; "My God hath sent His angels and hath shut the lions' mouths." Read his prayer to God in chapter 9. When we trust in our God, then indeed purity and temperance and strength are given to us. If you want to be a splendid, brave man of character and goodness, my friend, do not neglect your prayers. It may seem a little thing to you to kneel down in the morning and thank God for his care through the night, and ask Him to guide you through the day; but it brings the hosts of Heaven to guard you, and make you the child of Christ all through the hours of toil.

Second, Daniel spoke the truth even when called upon to condemn kings. Nebuchadnezzar was a terrible and cruel ruler, but Daniel told him in plain language that he had sinned and that God would punish him. Nebuchadnezzar feared neither God nor man, but Daniel rebuked him for his shameless deeds. It is a fine thing to rebuke vice and to stand bravely before men and declare the sins which are their ruin. God cannot give strength to the man who is afraid to stand up for the right, who compromises and apologizes and lowers his ideals of purity and temperance and honor. He has no character who yields to those who would lead him astray lest he should offend them. The moral coward is the poorest and cheapest thing on the face of the earth. Only to him who hates evil and fights it whenever and wherever he finds it can God give the crown of manhood. 