Lion-to-Daniel Trick Cartooning on Prayer

Developed for my conference workshop on cartooning, here is a fun flip-over drawing that is easy to do. The Bible story is about Daniel being thrown into the den of lions (Daniel, chapter 6). The topic is prayer, but you can change it to suit your lesson.

To prepare, print the cartoon image onto a transparency. Project the image onto a sheet of newsprint paper (newsprint paper pads are available at most art supply stores). Using a pencil, lightly trace the image. Once the image is completely traced, set up your prepared paper in the room where you intend to use it. Place a blank sheet of paper under your prepared sheet, so any bleed-through from your marker will not mar the surface underneath. Now, make sure your audience cannot see the pencil lines, but also be certain that you will be able to see them when you stand next to the prepared paper. When it comes time to use this method, use a 1" wide black marker to trace over the pencil lines as you relate the story. Follow the directions in the application below and turn the image over at the appropriate time. Now, instead of the lion, it shows Daniel calmly praying!

Daniel in the Lion’s Den
(Cartooning: Lion to Daniel)

Reference Text: Daniel, chapter six

Key Point: Pray faithfully

Daniel was a man who followed God. Daniel made sure that he kept the lines of communication open between God and himself. In fact, Daniel had made it a habit to open his window and pray three times each day, morning, at noon, and in the evening.

(Begin drawing lion) Daniel was a counselor to Darius, King of the Medes. There were other counselors at the court who also advised King Darius. These other men did not believe in God and did not serve Him.

King Darius liked Daniel and liked his advice more than the advice of any other. The king would listen to Daniel’s words, and this made the other counselors angry and very jealous. They wanted the king to listen to what they said, instead of what Daniel said.

Soon, they came up with a sneaky plan. They knew that Daniel prayed to God three times each day. So, they convinced King Darius to make a law proclaiming that for one month, the people could only pray to the King! Can you imagine praying to someone like your school principal or the governor of the state for a miracle? That’s silly! But, that’s what the king ordered everyone to do. It was now against the law for a person to pray to anyone except the king!

The wicked counselors listened at Daniel’s window, to see if he would obey the new law, or if he would continue to pray to God. Daniel was not going to stop talking with God, so he continued to pray three times a day, just as he had before. The wicked counselors told this to King Darius. As much as King Darius liked Daniel, he had to have Daniel punished. Daniel was thrown into a den of hungry lions! (Point out the “hungry lion” you have drawn, with his sharp teeth and hungry eyes.)

Daniel was in a bad situation! But, instead of worrying about it and instead of just talking about it, and instead of trying to make up his own solution, Daniel put his trust in God. Knowing Daniel was innocent, God sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions.

In the morning, King Darius came running to the entrance of the lion’s den. He had not been able to eat or sleep all night because he was so worried about his friend Daniel. Imagine his surprise to find that Daniel was completely unharmed! (Turn drawing over to show Daniel smiling.)

King Darius had Daniel lifted out of the lion’s den, and ordered the wicked counselors and their families to be thrown in, instead! The Bible tells us that before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed their bones. King Darius went on to make a law that said the God of Daniel was to be reverenced because He is the living God that performs signs and wonders!

Just like God delivered Daniel, He wants to perform miracles in your life, too! Daniel prayed daily. Keep praying daily, read God’s Word, and listen to His Spirit. When you do that, you can expect a miracle!

copyright 2006-2008
by Gregory L. Lichi
all rights reserved

Smiling at Lightning

A boy walked to and from school daily. On one particular morning, the weather was questionable as clouds were forming and the sky was grey, but the boy made his daily trek to the elementary school anyway.

As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up and the thunder and lightning began to roll. The boy's mother was concerned that her son would be frightened as he walked home from school and feared that the electrical storm might harm her child.

Worried, the mother got into her car and drove along the route to her child's school. Upon finding her son, she noticed her boy was walking along just fine, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile. More lightning followed and with each one the boy would look at the streak of light and smile.

Puzzled, the mother pulled her car close, lowered the window and asked her son, "What are you doing?"

The child answered, "I am trying to look nice 'cause God keeps taking my picture."