Daniel’s Example of Prayer and Confession
And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: and I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession. Daniel 9:3, 4.
Daniel’s example of prayer and confession is given for our instruction and encouragement. . . . Daniel knew that the appointed time for Israel’s captivity was nearly ended, but he did not feel that because God had promised to deliver them, they themselves had no part to act. With fasting and contrition he sought the Lord, confessing his own sins and the sins of the people….
Daniel makes no plea on the ground of his own goodness, but he says: “O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies” (Daniel 9:18). His intensity of desire makes him earnest and fervent. He continues: “O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.”…
What a prayer was that which came forth from the lips of Daniel! What humbling of soul it reveals! The warmth of heavenly fire was recognized in the words that were going upward to God. Heaven responded to that prayer by sending its messenger to Daniel. In this our day, prayers offered in like manner will prevail with God. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). As in ancient times, when prayer was offered, fire descended from heaven and consumed the sacrifice upon the altar, so in answer to our prayers, the heavenly fire will come into our souls. The light and power of the Holy Spirit will be ours. . . . That God who heard Daniel’s prayer will hear ours when we come to Him in contrition. Our necessities are as urgent, our difficulties are as great, and we need to have the same intensity of purpose, and in faith roll our burden upon the great Burden Bearer. There is need for hearts to be as deeply moved in our time as in the time when Daniel prayed.
That I May Know Him p. 271
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Prayer Requests
——The Lord has done a miracle for Daniela! She hasn’t just passed her exam on that Friday, but she has also passed the exam she had a few days before, one which she was told that she hadn’t pass! That was unbelievable! Praise the Lord! I am studying Theology, but from some time now I have been thinking and praying about attending one more faculty of our SDA Institute: Romanian – English Faculty, I think that this is what the Lord wants me to do, but my parents don’t agree with me. I need you to pray for me for God to give me wisdom and help me in taking a right decision and if this is His will, to help my parents understand this. The interview for admission is this week, on Thursday. Carol’s friend
——update—-My leg is better but not getting well fast enough as I have a long drive on Thursday. Please pray that my calf muscle heals quickly so I don’t have to postpone my trip. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Many years ago, my mother worked piecework in a factory that had terrible working conditions. In the winter, there was little heat and in the summer, the place was stifling. Every night, she would come home exhausted and almost sick. We did not have a car, so she had to ride the bus and walk several blocks home.
By the bus stop, there was a little dress shop nestled between a variety store and a restaurant. She often paused for a moment to look at the pretty clothing displayed in the dress shop’s window. She loved pretty things but every penny she earned had to be used just to meet expenses. One evening as she was getting off the bus, she saw the most beautiful dress on display. It was pale blue with delicate flowers. How she longed for that dress!
Over the next few weeks, she saved a dollar here and a dollar there until she had enough to buy that long-desired dress. That day had been particularly difficult at work. The temperature was very hot —so hot that the tar was melting and dripping through the factory’s ceiling like little stalactites. The anticipation of buying that beautiful dress that very evening helped her bear the miserable heat. At long last, it was time to go home. Tired and sweaty, she climbed into the bus and wearily sat down. All the way to her stop, she dreamed of the dress that would soon be hers.
Finally, the bus came to her corner. She stood at the dress shop’s window a moment to catch her breath and then ventured in. She saw no clerk, so she searched the racks of dresses until she found the one she had saved for for so long. Just then the clerk came out of the back and walked over to where she was. The woman took one look at my mother and decided that she did not have the money for any of her beautiful garments. Looking my mother up and down with a haughty look upon her face, she said, “We don’t allow “window shoppers” in here.
My poor mother was shocked! She was angry! She was hurt! She had saved for many weeks to buy that dress and now the store clerk’s cruel words ruined everything. My mother never said a word. She just turned around with tears of disappointment in her eyes and walked out of the store. She never again went back to that store or even looked at the fine dresses displayed in the window.
This sinful old world is full of disappointment and heartache. How often we anticipate something, hope for something, dream for something, only to have those hopes and dreams dashed to pieces and our life left in a shambles. John advises, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” 1 John 2:15 Jesus tells us, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:19-21
Praise God! This miserable, disappointing, sinful, old world is not our home. Jesus has promised that He will soon bring an end to disappointment and heartache, sin and suffering. He assures us, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 16:33;14:1-3 Precious promise! Someday soon, our Great Redeemer will rescue us from all of our trials and take us to a glorious place where “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Cor 2:9
Isaiah gives a glimpse of that fair land. “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind….And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.” “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. Isa 65:1, 21-25;11:6-9
May we long for that wonderful day with all of our being, for we will not be disappointed. May we forget those things which are behind, reach forth unto those things which are before, and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:13, 14) May we someday soon meet together under the tree of life and “follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth” is my prayer. Rev 14:4
Rose