Daily D – Daniel 9:21-23

by David Bowman | Sep 17, 2023 | Daily D | 0 comments

Daniel 9:21-23 “As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice. He explained to me, “Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding. The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God. Listen carefully so that you can understand the meaning of your vision.” (NLT)

—

How could God answer Daniel’s prayer before he even formed his thoughts and spoke his words?

God knew Daniel’s heart and mind better than Daniel himself knew it. He knew what Daniel was about to pray. God knew Daniel’s heart was aligned with his purpose and plan. God knew Daniel wanted what he wanted.

The secret to answered prayer is not a secret. When we want what God wants, God says Yes. When we learn to align our desires with God’s desires, when we realize what he wants for us is better than anything we want for ourselves, we begin experiencing what people like to call power in prayer.

Return to Psalm 37 for insight. Verse 4 is a favorite memory verse for many. Ponder its context. Read verses 3-7 for broader and better understanding:

Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

There are seven To Do’s in this passage and two To Don’t’s.

To Do
1. Trust in the LORD.
2. Do good.
3. Take delight in the LORD.
4. Commit everything you do to the LORD.
5. Trust him.
6. Be still in the presence of the LORD.
7. Wait patiently for him to act.

To Don’t
* Don’t worry.
* Don’t fret.

Return to Daniel’s prayer. Read verses 7-19. Notice how he talked to God about Israel’s current reality and how it was brought about by long years of disobedience and rebellion. See how Daniel confessed “my sin and the sin of my people,” (verse 20).

Agree with God about our current reality and how we got here. Confess your sin. Confess the sin of our nation. Seek the good God longs to give to those who love him.

Remember God’s nature and character. Daniel begins his prayer with this praise:

“I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands,” (verse 4).

God’s love never ends. God keeps his promises.

This is powerful praying.

—

I will learn to pray like Daniel and David.

—

Our Father, teach me to pray. Deliver me from whiny, self-centered prayer. Reorient my prayers away from asking for blessings as if I had to arm wrestle you for them. Give me a heart in tune with yours so I may seek what you desire for me. Give me a bigger, broader vision than myself. Empower me to see what you see and to want what you want for this world. Amen.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

CONNECT WITH ME!

Interested in learning more about Church Unique or Life Younique? Send a note through the Get In Touch box or Message me through the Facebook link above.

GET IN TOUCH!

READ MY BLOG!

Daily D – Mark 9:33-37

Mark 9:33-37 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest. Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.” He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent me.”

Daily D – Psalm 97:11

Psalm 97:11 Light dawns for the righteous, gladness for the upright in heart.

Daily D – Mark 3:1-6

Mark 3:1-6 Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a shriveled hand. In order to accuse him, they were watching him closely to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath. He told the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand before us.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. After looking around at them with anger, he was grieved at the hardness of their hearts and told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. Immediately the Pharisees went out and started plotting with the Herodians against him, how they might kill him.

Daily D – Mark 2:1-5

Mark 2:1-5 When he entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the word to them. They came to him bringing a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Daily D – Matthew 27:54

Matthew 27:54 When the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”