Daniel 9 is one of the GREAT chapters of the Bible. There, we find this passionate prayer from Daniel:
"Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances… Open shame belongs to us, O Lord… because we have sinned against You" (9:4–5, 8)
He continued, "…all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth. Therefore the Lord has kept the calamity in store and brought it on us; for the Lord our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice" (9:13–14).
Daniel then pleaded, "O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name" (9:18–19).
Did Daniel's fervent prayer burn within your heart as it did mine? O, dear people, did you feel it? Do you realize that the situation that he described is also a picture of our country and our people? Wouldn't Daniel's prayer be great for us to pray for ourselves, our country, and our world today?
Jesus prayed and wept for His city and His people. So did Daniel. Shouldn't we do the same? Let's get serious. Our nation and our world are in deep trouble, and we can do something about it. WE CAN PRAY, and prayer changes things. Prayer also changes us!
We need to fall on our knees in humility before the Lord, confessing our sin and asking for the right things with the right motives. Doesn't that make sense? Will you pray like Daniel today?
Prayer: O Lord, our God, forgive us our sins. Our world has offended You. We are so sorry. We pray for our rulers, that they may be saved and for Your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Quote for the Day: "No one is a firmer believer in the power of prayer than the devil; not that he practices it, but he suffers from it." —Guy H. King
