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)

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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.

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I will learn to pray like Daniel and David.

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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.

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Daily D – Isaiah 65:1-2

Isaiah 65:1, 2
The Lord says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help.
I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me.
I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’
to a nation that did not call on my name.
All day long I opened my arms to a rebellious people.
But they follow their own evil paths
and their own crooked schemes.”

Daily D – Psalm 131

Psalm 131
Lord, my heart is not proud;
my eyes are not haughty.
I don’t concern myself with matters too great
or too awesome for me to grasp.
Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself,
like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk.
Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, put your hope in the Lord—
now and always.

Daily D – Isaiah 55:8-13

Isaiah 55:8-13
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

“The rain and snow come down from the heavens
and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
producing seed for the farmer
and bread for the hungry.
It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
You will live in joy and peace.
The mountains and hills will burst into song,
and the trees of the field will clap their hands!
Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow.
Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up.
These events will bring great honor to the LORD’s name;
they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”

Daily D – Isaiah 50:4-5

Isaiah 50:4, 5 “The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom,
so that I know how to comfort the weary.
Morning by morning he wakens me
and opens my understanding to his will.
The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me,
and I have listened.
I have not rebelled or turned away.”

Daily D – Isaiah 48:17-18

Isaiah 48:17, 18 This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the LORD your God,
who teaches you what is good for you
and leads you along the paths you should follow.
Oh, that you had listened to my commands!
Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river
and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.”

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