The Bible strongly affirms prayer groups. When the going was tough, when the enemy was attacking, when deliverances were needed, God's people turned to prayer.
Daniel 2:17 "Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: 18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven."
Daniel 2:20 "Daniel answered and said,
Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever:
for wisdom and might are his:
21 And he changeth the times and the seasons:
he removeth kings, and setteth up kings:
he giveth wisdom unto the wise,
and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things:
he knoweth what is in the darkness,
and the light dwelleth with him.
23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers,
who hast given me wisdom and might,
and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee:
for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter."
Daniel 2:26 "The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? 27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; 28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;"
Daniel 2:30 "But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart."
Daniel 2:46 "Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. 47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret."
Daniel 2:48 "Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king."
The narratives of Daniel are full of stories about prayer. When Daniel is given a reprieve to seek God for information about the King's dream, he joins his three friends in seeking God's help. God rewarded their prayers with an answer during the night. As a result, Daniel's life was spared, and his friends were eventually promoted to high positions in Babylon.
(1) There was a need.
Daniel was facing death. In the face of his pending death, he resorted to prayer. He had a great need!
(2) He let his friends know about his need.
Some people are shy about letting others know about their struggles. Daniel was wise in letting his friends know what was going on. In my many years of instructing on prayer, I've discovered that the people who get the most answers to prayer, are the people who are asking for prayer support from others.
(3) He asked them to pray in a specific way.
We have been encouraged to pray specifically, and for good reason. From what I can tell, God likes to answer specific prayers. I recall speaking to a young adult in India about prayer and why God was answering his prayers. He told me it was due to his praying so specifically!
(4) They prayed humbly.
They sought the mercy of God in their prayers. They did not come arrogantly. Nor did they come demanding a particular outcome. Rather they came humbly asking for God's mercy that they would not perish with the other wise men of the Kingdom.
(5) The secret was revealed.
God answered. I am glad the story also shared that God answered the prayer. Thousands, if not millions of people, down through history have been encouraged by this story. If Daniel would not have shared the answer we would not be encouraged in our day. If God significantly answers your prayers, be sure to look for opportunities to let others now about what God is doing!
(6) Daniel immediately praised God!
Before Daniel went to share the content of his dream with Nebuchadnezzar, he praised God from the bottom of his heart for God answering his prayer.
(7) He was humble in relating the answer to Nebuchadnezzar.
When Daniel went to Nebuchadnezzar he could have taken advantage of the situation to ingratiated himself to the monarch. He could have boasted of his ability to recall and interpret dreams.Rather than being prideful, however, he carefully explained to the king that the information had been given him by God. Not only that, but that he, Daniel, was no better than anyone else.
(8) He was kind.
Daniel did not attack the other wisemen. He made it clear in giving his answer that no human being could possibly answer the King. He could have said nasty things and done his best to get rid of his potential competitors. But he was king, and I believe Nebuchadnezzar recognized that Daniel was an unusual person, and therefore respected him.
(9) Daniel remembered his friends.
As the King was promoting Daniel to a high position, he asked the King to place his friends in good positions as well, which Nebuchadnezzar was happy to do: "Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon."
(10) He led the King to praise God.
A story that began with executioners pounding on the door, ends with the King on his face before Daniel, praising Daniel's God: Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods."
Daniel and his friends had no idea that their prayer group would bring such amazing outcomes, nor did they realize that later believers would be reading the story with joy. Try to start a prayer group. I think you will be blessed!
Acts 1:13 "And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren."
Acts 2:42 "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."
Acts 12:12 "And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying."