In our Beth Moore study of Daniel, we have reached chapter 9. The theme of chapter 9 is the prayer of Daniel and the prophecy of the Seventy Weeks. This chapter of Daniel has been called “the greatest chapter in the book and one of the greatest chapters of the entire Bible.” Philip Newell.
This post concerns the prayer of Daniel. What have I learned from Daniel’s example?
- Daniel knew his God! Prayer was no haphazard matter with Daniel. It was purposeful and planned. “I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.”
- It was painful. “…in fasting and in sackcloth and ashes” was NOT comfortable. No, I’m not saying we have to be uncomfortable, but our prayer does need to reveal the sincereity of our hearts and sometimes that’s not comfortable.
- It was plain. Daniel got right down to business. It wasn’t long and flowery. His prayer was only about 3 minutes long as was the prayer of Jesus in John 17!
- It was powerful. Daniel received an answer while he was speaking and praying. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” 1 John 5:14.
- It was personal and private. He didn’t call a public prayer meeting; although sometimes that’s a good thing to do too.
- It had full penetration. Prayer is the only force that penetrates outer space to the very throne of God!
Just think ~ God knows us by name. We will never pray an anonymous prayer~our petitions never go unsigned. That is so comforting.
Beth said “I believe…that God has great things ’stored up’ for those of us who esteem Him and take refuge in Him. Not earthly riches, but a life of purpose, tremendous fruit, deep satisfaction, godly influence, open doors for ministry, restoration of relationships and astonishing breakthroughs. These things are stored up by God but released BY PRAYER.”
In this process of prayer, we are developing a relationship ~ with GOD! After this prayer, Gabriel was sent by God to tell him, “As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.” What a relationship.
Believers (I use that word because many people call themselves Christians) have that kind of relationship with God. But it is only possible to have it because of the blood of Christ!
NOTE: Some information is from the study of Daniel by J. Vernon McGee.
Hi Beckie, Thanks so much for coming by my blog. I enjoyed your post today. A friend is atteding Beth Moore’s study on Daniel on Sunday nights and says it is a great series.
I will be showing some pics of our little cabin eventually–still a work in progress after all these years!
RMary
I have heard so many beautiful things about this study. I might have to just do it myself.
You are right. Our prayers are never unanswered – some times it just takes a little longer to get an answer…But we also have to listen to Him to hear His answer.
Thank you for sharing, Beckie.
Blessings on your afternoon and always.
Loved the comments on the Daniel study. I really needed to hear that today! I am doing the Beth Moore study on David & am loving it! It has ministered to my heart so much.
I just found your blog by “accident” today & I really enjoyed it. I’ll come back soon & often.
God Bless
Hi Beckie, I wanted to drop by and thank you for your kind and gracious comments on my blog.
I haven’t yet worked through one of Beth Moore’s Bible studies, but thus looks great.
Something that has always intrigued me about Daniel’s prayer is that there is no sin recorded against him (though of course we are all sinners), yet he identifies with and confesses the sins of his nation — he doesn’t say, “They have sinned” but “We have sinned.” That’s a rebuke to me because I would likely have been saying, “They.”
This is a great study. I finished it not so long ago and was so highly impressed with Daniel like I never was before. It made me understand him more as a man than I ever had before. Beth is good for that. I get to go see her in April and can hardly wait. We are going to South Carolina…Columbia I think….our church!! I have done a couple of her studies now and dearly love them.
thanks for stopping by…I am glad to be home again.
Sandy
Nice blog!