Daniel the LION hearted

Well, I am still studying the book of Daniel. It is hard to believe that so much happened in a book with only 12 chapters...two dreams, a firey furnace, an 80 year old Daniel in the Lion's Den and all that is just in the first 6 chapters. Daniel has served faithfully in Babylon through three kings. He was accused and singled out for his faith. He immediately went to his room to kneel and pray. When they found him he was "giving thanks before his God." King Darius gave the order to throw Daniel in the lion's den and said, "Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you." Then they rolled a stone over the entrance (sound familiar?) "so that nothing might be changed in regard to Daniel." Little did he realize that this would change everything. After King Darius realized that "no injury whatsoever was found on him because he trusted in his God," he wrote to all the peoples, nations, and men of evey language who were living in the land..."the God of Daniel...is the living God and enduring forever, and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and his dominion will be forever. he delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth who had also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions." (Daniel 6:26-27). This is not a sweet little kids Bible story. Those lions were hungry and ferocious and fierce. I am leaving you with a picture of the lions I saw up close and personal on safari in Kenya last year. We caught them napping. We were all inside the small open-air vans but I still trembled at the proximity of these wild animals. We saw several carcasses they had preyed upon and were fiesting on earlier that day. It was savage to say the least. My question is...if the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour...is my sword drawn? Am I on the offense or defense? Do I run or stand and fight? Daniel the LION hearted stood and fought - even in the face of death, he knelt and gave thanks. Am I thankful for those things or people that sharpen me?