Religiously

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. Daniel 6:10.
We often talk of relationship with God. Relationship is different than religion, but sometimes like as with Daniel there is a religious aspect to our relationship. What I mean by that as I read about Daniel he had a relationship with God, he called out to him in prayer three times a day. There was a structured element to his relationship, it was his habit to go to his upper chamber with a window open to Jerusalem and he would get down on his knees and pray to God.  As he had done previously, it was a habit. He felt his relationship with God was so important that he developed this habit by doing it over and over again. You might say he prayed religiously. Even though it was structured, a habit, he loved his God and trusted him to bring him through anything, that was relationship. Daniel knew they were plotting against him and were watching to condemn him.  Daniel was a faithful servant not only to God but to his King. He was blameless and those that worked with him were jealous of him and knew King Darius wanted to put Daniel over the whole kingdom. His enemies knew the only way to trap him was in his worship of his God. They got the king to sign a decree that no one in the kingdom could petition any god or man other than King Darius for 30 days. If caught they were to be thrown into a den of lions. Daniel as was his habit when he knew the decree was signed prayed as he had previously. Hid relationship with God was that important that he did not let his enemies stop him. We have all heard the story of Daniel and the Lion's den. Daniel was caught and thrown into the den of hungry lions but God delivered Daniel. I remember a statement in a book I read a while back about passionately pursuing God. That is what Daniel did, he passionately pursued God, it was a habit, it was a religious effort on Daniels part. But it resulted in a relationship that was strong enough for him to face a lion's den. He religiously prayed three time a day, kneeling in a window open toward Jerusalem.  Religiously: with consistent and conscientious regularity: is the definition I found on the internet. Consistent and conscientious regularity. Daniel knew what he was doing, it was on purpose. We need God, every last one of us. Sometimes that relationship may feel forced as we consistently but God desires our relationship, our prayers. He will bless and keep us if we seek him. God bless, LVZ.