“But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?” “Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” Daniel 6:10-12
Even though Jerusalem lay in ruins and the Temple was destroyed, still this is the place where God had chosen, and, actually where He would dwell in the Temple between the Mercy Seat and the Cherubim. This is where God was to dwell and it made no difference to Daniel. Just because they were not in Jerusalem, this had not changed in the mind of Daniel. So he prayed toward Jerusalem. Under the New Covenant, there would be no reason to pray toward Jerusalem or any other direction. God no longer resides in an earthly Temple, but actually in the hearts and the lives of the Believers. “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
Daniel was the perfect example of a Christian being separated from the world but not isolated. We are part of the world and God wants us to be an example for the world to follow, but when we compromise we are not a good example. We are to do as Peter says, “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) Daniel was praying three times a day. In praying three times a day Daniel was following the Word of God. “Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.” (Psalm 55:17)
Daniel had faith in God and it did not matter what was going to happen; God was in control. “By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.” (Hebrews 11:33-34)