What did Daniel do when the decree against praying to God was signed?
When he knew the decree was signed, Daniel went into his house, where his windows were opened toward Jerusalem, and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, not to the Medes and Persians' god.
Les explains that when Daniel knew the writing was signed—the decree requiring everyone to bow and pray to the god of the Medes and Persians—Daniel went into his house. His windows were opened in his chamber toward Jerusalem, and he kneeled three times a day and prayed. Not only did he pray, but he gave thanks. Les sees this as the secret of prayer: people often think prayer is only asking, but God first demands a heart of thanksgiving. If we can pray with thanksgiving, we can rest assured we are on scriptural ground. Daniel bowed his knees and gave thanks before his God while a young Jew in captivity, far from his homeland in a pagan land. Later, in chapter 9, he prays on behalf of Israel, confessing, “We have sinned, we have committed iniquity,” speaking of himself and his people, who were in captivity because of rebellion and sinfulness.
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.