5 Prayers for Walking in the Spirit of Excellence (Daniel 6:3)

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“Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.” (Daniel 6:3, KJV)

Daniel was a man of remarkable character, distinguished by an excellent spirit that set him apart from his peers. In this blog post, we will explore Daniel 5:11-12 to uncover five key attributes that defined Daniel’s spirit of excellence. These attributes will form the foundation of our prayers as we seek to walk in the same spirit of excellence that Daniel embodied.

Prayer One: Light

The first characteristic of Daniel’s excellence was the anointing of light. In Daniel 5:11, the queen described him as having “light and understanding and wisdom.” This light is not merely human intelligence but divine illumination. The Bible tells us that the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord (Proverbs 20:27), meaning that God enlightens His people from within.

Paul affirms this truth in 2 Corinthians 4:6: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Just as God spoke light into existence in Genesis 1:3, He also commands His light to shine into our hearts, guiding us in truth and wisdom.

David recognized this when he said, “For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.” (Psalm 18:28). Similarly, Job testified: “When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness” (Job 29:3).

A person filled with divine light does not walk in confusion, guesswork, or error. Instead, they have clarity, direction, and discernment in all they do. As we seek the spirit of excellence, we must pray for this divine illumination to lead us in every area of our lives.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, I ask that You shine Your light into my heart. Illuminate my mind with Your wisdom and truth. Remove every form of darkness and confusion from my life. May I walk in clarity, discernment, and divine guidance, just as Daniel did. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Prayer Two: Understanding

Another quality that set Daniel apart was his deep understanding. Daniel 5:11 states that he had understanding given by the Spirit of God. This was not mere human comprehension but divine insight, as described in Job 32:8: “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”

Even at a young age, Jesus exemplified this spirit of understanding. Luke 2:47 tells us, “ And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.“ At age twelve, He astonished the doctors of the law with His wisdom and understanding because as a child he grew, and waxed strong in spirit (Luke 2:40).

Also, David himself understood the value of understanding, and he prayed in Psalm 119:144: “The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.” Without divine understanding, we merely exist; true life begins when God grants us insight into His will and ways.

Paul prayed for the Ephesians, saying, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” (Ephesians 1:18). This should be our prayer as well, that God may grant us supernatural understanding in all that we do.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, grant me the spirit of understanding. Enlighten my mind and heart so that I may discern Your will and walk in alignment with Your purposes. Let my decisions be guided by divine insight, and may I grow in the knowledge of You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Prayer Three: Wisdom

Daniel was renowned for his wisdom. Daniel 5:11 describes his wisdom as being like “the wisdom of the gods.” Wisdom is a foundational attribute of a person walking in excellence. When Solomon ascended the throne, he asked God for wisdom instead of wealth or power. God responded in 2 Chronicles 1:11: “Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people…”

James 1:5 encourages us to seek wisdom: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Wisdom enables us to make sound decisions, navigate life’s challenges, and lead with excellence.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, I ask for wisdom from above. Fill me with divine insight so that I may walk in excellence. Let my words, actions, and decisions reflect the wisdom that comes from You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Prayer Four: Knowledge

Daniel 5:12 reveals that Daniel possessed knowledge, which enabled him to interpret dreams, solve complex problems, and dissolve doubts. Paul speaks of the importance of spiritual knowledge in Ephesians 1:17: “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.” True knowledge comes from a revelation of God’s truth and wisdom.

Without divine knowledge, people stumble in ignorance. Hosea 4:6 warns, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” We must continually seek knowledge that aligns with God’s word and His divine purpose for our lives.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, increase me in the knowledge of You. Give me revelation and understanding of Your ways. Let my mind be filled with the truth of Your word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Prayer Five: The Spirit of the Holy God

Daniel 5:11 testifies that “the spirit of the holy gods” was in him, which was the true source of all his excellence in light, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Isaiah 11:2 describes the sevenfold Spirit of God resting upon Jesus: “And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.”

Daniel excelled because he was filled with God’s Spirit, just as Jesus was. As believers, we are also filled with the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to walk in excellence (Zechariah 4:6; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:26).

Prayer: “Holy Spirit, fill me afresh. Let Your presence guide my steps, empower my decisions, and set me apart in excellence. May I reflect Your character in all that I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

In conclusion, the spirit of excellence that Daniel possessed is available to all believers who seek God wholeheartedly. As we pray for light, understanding, wisdom, knowledge, and the fullness of God’s Spirit, we position ourselves to walk in divine excellence and fulfill our God-given purpose.

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