Daniel 9:3 “Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.”
Daniel 9 is regarded as one of the greatest prayers in the Bible. It was prayed by Daniel, who was one of the greatest prayer warriors we read of in the Bible. You might recall in Daniel 6, he was willing to die rather than stop praying. Obviously, he believed that God heard and answered prayer and that it was to be an essential part of a believer’s life.
How important is prayer ot your daily life?
As we come to our verse, Daniel is praying for his nation, and he prays with humility and brokenness. Our verse reveals his approach to God. Interestingly (at least in my mind, is he first and foremost sets his face toward God. He is LOOKING to the Lord. He needs the Lord. In Psalm 121 we are instructed to lift up our eyes, to look to the Lord, as it is from Him that we find our help. He is fasting. Fasting conveys not only a deep need for God but a deep dependence on God. He is in sackcloth and ashes to convey a humility before God. He is poor in spirit. He is bringing nothing to God. He will be asking God, not making demands of God. Though he has earthly titles that give him rights and privileges, he is acknowledging the greatness of God. It reminds us of the man who humbly said God be merciful to me, a sinner.
How do you approach God? In Hebrews 4:16 we are INSTRUCTED to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Bold praying is not BRASH praying. Yes, there is to be a confidence that our God is able and willing to hear and answer our prayers, but not a cockiness. God’s Word is clear in several places that God resists the proud. He however, gives grace to the humble.
Please let Daniel’s approach to God in prayer instruct you on your approach to our Heavenly Father. Come humbly, boldly before Him. Express your gratefulness for God granting you the privilege to bring everything to Him in prayer.
Let our all-access pass to boldly approach the throne of God generate a deep humility.
Continue strong with humility before God,
And remember to Date the Word.