Daniels's answer

Daniel’s answer If you are like I am, there is probably something you have been praying for almost daily for some time without seeing the answer you expect. It gets hard. Sometimes I find myself asking, how long? I get impatient because I just know if this one thing would happen … and I fill in the blanks about how much better life would be. Thing is, I can’t stop praying. For one, if I stop praying, who will? I am the watchman on the wall with the task of not being quiet as long as there is a threat of danger. It doesn’t matter who else is praying, or if the person I am praying for is conscious of a need for God’s intervention, or if I am just agreeing with them in prayer. I must do my part. Persevere. Press. Even when it seems all I fear is already happening. I must continue to pray. That’s what Daniel did and he discovered after twenty-one days, persistence pays. Just as he remained diligent in his faith and sealed it with fasting, let us also resolve not to stop praying. Maybe we have been crying out for way longer than twenty-one days. It may even be closer to twenty-one years. Still don’t stop. God will send an angel with your answer.

Daniel's prayer

Daniel's prayer The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him" Daniel 9:14. "...yet we have not obeyed him." This is the crux of the matter. In spite of all the turmoil, in spite of all the distress, in spite of all the favor we received where punishment was our due, yet we have not obeyed. I reference a recent post I saw where Charlie Brown is having a conversation with Snoopy. To paraphrase, it says we are waiting for God to heal our land while he is still waiting for us to humble ourselves and turn … Disaster is a signal all is not well and should act as a prompt for us to seek God. Remember, God is our "parent" we are taught to approach him as Father whenever we pray. We don't reward our children for disobedience or celebrate them when they do things detrimental to both themselves and our family. In fact, even if as parents we would choose to turn a blind eye, actions bring their own consequences. Though God loves us with all his being, he cannot excuse sin. But there is hope. Look at the time Daniel started his 21 days of fasting and prayer. It was already a year into what would be 70 years of exile. He did not think to himself, oh well we are already Nebuchadnezzar's captives, Jerusalem is ruined, what's the point? No. He lived his faith, he fasted, and he prayed sincerely to the one God whom he knew was still able to help. What a great reminder to us that it is never too late for God to move. Next week as we continue, we will just how God answered Daniel. Photo credit Dee Kamp .

Daniel's prayer

Daniel's prayer continued... Daniel 9:5 Before we look at the stark simplicity of this verse, I want us to be aware, sin's effect is both immediate and cumulative. Immediate because it puts us outside of the will of God and cumulative because we reap what we sow. Israel's Babylonian captivity did not happen because of any one, great sin. Rather, disobedience to God and walking away from the covenant had become a lifestyle. Prophets warned repeatedly, the priests were carrying out their functions, but the people wouldn't change, would not repent. Finally, God had enough. The covering of blessings lifted and the promised judgement fell. Babylon swooped in and decimated the nation. A free, vibrant, prosperous, and proud people found themselves enslaved to a foreign nation. It all started when God's people turned their backs on him. So, In the 1st year of captivity, Daniel prayed: "We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws..." No excuses. No rationalizing. Can we be as honest and just call our present dilemma what it is when we pray?