DANIEL, A REAL PRAYER WARRIOR
Daniel 9:1-9, 16-19 constitute an instructive, heart-felt and most earnest prayer uttered by Daniel during the Babylonian Captivity. He had learned that Jeremiah had spelled out that it would last seventy years. Now, well into this time span, Daniel knows of the sin of his people which caused the horrible captivity and is also aware that the people have yet to truly clean up their act. And so, he prays so very ardently. It is one of the most passionate payers in the Bible. So open the Bible and read the above Scriptures and feel his burden and yearning heart.
AND THEN, DO NOTICE DANIEL’S:
SET DETERMINATION (9:3a)
“Then I set my face toward the Lord God…”
A true prayer warrior sets his or her face like a flint to do so. Prayer can't be merely a whim or a fancy. I must understand that a righteous believer can reach the heart of God and move Him in unusual ways. Speaking in hyperbole, Jesus said if we pray in faith we can move an entire mountain into the sea. Such a faith is perseverance that GOD CAN! It's been said that the difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one often comes from a strong will and the other from a strong won't.
Daniel had both!
THEN, NOTICE DANIEL'S SERIOUS COMMUNICATION WITH GOD (9:3b)
“…to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.”
J. Wilbur Chapman told how he met the famous missionary, "Praying Hyde." Chapman asked the man if he would come to his room and pray for hm personally. He was conducting meetings at the time and sensed he needed to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Chapman reported that as soon as they were in his room, Praying Hyde locked the door and dropped to his knees. "I waited five minutes without that dear man uttering a single syllable, said Chapman. "Presently I felt hot tears course down my cheeks. Although Hyde had said nothing, I knew I was in the presence of God in a special way. Then, with upturned face and eyes streaming, he exclaimed, "O God!" Then he was quiet again. When he sensed he was in communication with the Lord, there came from the depths of his heart petitions such I had never heard I arose from my knees knowing what real prayer was!
Daniel prayed like that!
THIRDLY, HEAR DANIEL'S PRAYERFUL MAGNIFICATION (9:17)
“Now therefore, our God, hear the PRAYER of Your servant…”
Supplication or asking God for 'this and that' (worthy causes as they may be) is indeed encouraged by the Lord Himself. "Ask and you shall receive." But, the very word 'PRAYER' primarily elicits the idea of worship or fixing our eyes upon the magnificent God to Whom we pray. When we enter into communication with Him, He is to be extolled and magnified. When David prayed before the congregation dedicating the materials for the Temple, he worshipped God intensely at the outset of his great prayer, saying,
"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all" (2 Chronicles 29:10-12).
Jesus taught us to pray in a manner in which, first of all, God is magnified: "Our Father Who art in heaven..." Big thoughts about God bring forth a big faith toward and in God. And so, Daniel commences his prayer.
HIS PRAYERFUL SUPPLICATION (9:17)
“Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, AND HIS SUPPLICATIONS…”
Again, our Savior taught us to ask Him for whatever is needed. "Give us this day our daily bread." "Ask and you shall receive. Wisely, He doesn't always give what we ask, but, He will give us what we need. He always answers with a RED LIGHT (no), a YELLOW LIGHT (wait a while), or a GREEN LIGHT (yes).
BY WAY OF PRAYERFUL AND WILLING DEPRIVATION (9:3)
“Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, WITH FASTING…”
What am I willing to forego in order to pray or receive the right response. It may be food, a change of schedule or some other inconvenience in order to be with God. Someone has remarked that today's plastic saints want to hear all about Jesus doing all the dieing. They want the preacher to preach another sermon on the cross. It never occurs to them that the same Jesus who died for our sins, asks us to die to sin and self. Only thereby can be ever be found to be serious prayer warriors. "Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord."
AND THEN, HIS PRAYERFUL AND LOWLY HUMILIATION (9:3)
“Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting,
SACKCLOTH, AND ASHES.”
Isaiah the prophet excoriates the proud who parade their feigned goodnesses before the Lord. God hates pride. He sums up much of what he says on this subject in the last chapter of his prophecy when he reports God saying, “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." How profound. Do I want to be close to God? I must then be humble before the Almighty.
- dick christen
