The Prophet Daniel, Michelangelo Buonarroti

Daniel was reading Jeremiah and the inspired words he read brought him to his knees in prayer.

Now I read what Daniel, under the inspiration of God wrote, and I am brought to my knees in prayer.

God speaks through His Word, and I respond in prayer; and yet, some times, like Daniel, my response should be accompanied with fasting.

I read and I pray, I read and I see my sin and repent, I read and I find promises and I find rest.

We kept on reading at the family table the book of Daniel, my son knew I love this chapter and asked Dad if I could read it. I did, and I found in his prayer, my prayer.

“Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.  O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.” (Ch 9:16-20 ESV)

Jesus had not come yet, however, Daniel, through the Holy Spirit knew why he could present himself  before the Almighty God in prayer. It was not because of his own righteousness; he knew this would be impossible, but because of God’s  great mercy, because he had been called by God’s name. This was the ground on which he stood firmly before a Just and Righteous God.

We can come to God, to our Father, because of Jesus’ name; if He has called you by your name, if you have heard his voice, do not delay your coming to Him in prayer; find His voice in the Scriptures, pray, see your heart in the light of the Word of God, and repent of your sins. His mercies are new today, His grace never ends, He is delighted in hear us calling on His name.

While Daniel was still praying, the Lord sent an angel to assure him that his prayer had been answered, that he was greatly loved!

An angel will not come to us anymore. We have  now a greater assurance that our prayer has been heard, we have Jesus’ precious words:

“In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”         John 16: 23.24 ESV

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”     Matthew 7:7-10 ESV

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours”     Mark 11:24 ESV

  “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”     John 14: 13- 14 ESV

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7 ESV 

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”      John 15:16 ESV

May you hear his voice today through the reading of His Word and fall on your knees in prayer, to find His grace and never ending mercy.

Take God’s Word with you, Praying God’s Promises @ Challies
Read it Very Much, a great article by George Müller, find it at Penned Pebbles.