1. Position yourself for prayer by reading
Scripture first.
“In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood
from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the
prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years” (v. 2).
2. Follow Scripture’s lead toward what you should pray for.
(If prayer’s the train, make Scripture the rails.)
“So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in
prayer and petition…” (v. 3)
3. Pray humbly, recognizing your utter unworthiness before
an all-holy God.
“…prayer and petition in fasting, and in sackcloth and
ashes.” (v. 3)
4. Begin by praising God for His attributes, His greatness
and faithfulness. Let God’s character provide the context for prayer, so He’s
the center of gravity, not you.
“I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: ‘O Lord, the
great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and
obey his commands…’“ (v. 4)
5. Confess your sins, taking full responsibility, without
rationalization, spin or self-exemption.
“We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and
have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.” (v. 5-6)
6. Permeate prayer with affirmations of God’s amazing grace
and your profound gratitude—never asking for what you deserve, but thanking Him
that He’s given you infinitely better than you deserve.
“Lord, you are righteous but we are covered with
shame…you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you…we and our
kings, our princes and our fathers are covered with shame because we have
sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we
have rebelled; we have not obeyed…All Israel has transgressed your Law and
turned away, refusing to obey you.” (v. 7-11a)
7. Before bringing your requests, repeatedly affirm God’s
worthiness and your unworthiness—never forget who you are, and Who you’re
talking to.
“Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the
law of Moses…have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you!
You have fulfilled the words spoken…by bringing upon us great disaster…just as
it is written in the law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us.” (v.
11b-12a)
8. Never blame God for sin, its consequences or for life’s
hardships.
“Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like
what has been done to Jerusalem. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all
this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD by
turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. The LORD did not
hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the LORD is righteous in
everything; yet we have not obeyed him.” (v. 12b-14)
9. Make requests in light of God’s past acts of
faithfulness. Rehearse those acts to God, as demonstrated in Scripture,
history, and your own personal and family life.
“Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of
Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this
day, we have sinned and done wrong. O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous
acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem…” (v. 15-16)
10. Pray for God’s sake, His glory, and His reputation,
reminding yourself it’s all about Him, not you.
“Our sins and the iniquities of our fathers have made
Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us. Now, our
God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord,
look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, O God, and hear; open
your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. …O Lord,
listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not
delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” (v. 17-19)
11. Pray with a heartfelt recognition of God’s undeserved
grace on behalf of you and others.
“We do not make requests of you because we are righteous,
but because of your great mercy.” (v.18)
12. God hears our prayers and starts responding to them
(when we pray with Daniel’s attitude and perspective) before we can see
results, and even when we can’t see results at all.
“While I was still in prayer Gabriel the man came to me
in swift flight. “I have come to give you insight and understanding. As soon as
you began to pray, an answer was given…which I have come to tell you, for you
are highly esteemed.” (v. 21-23)
13. God deploys angels on missions in response to humble,
biblically-based, God-centered prayers.
“I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks…I looked and there
was a man…”I have been sent to you”…Then he continued, ‘Do not be afraid,
Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to
humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in
response to them.’“ (10:12)
14. Prayer mobilizes righteous angels, who engage in intense
turf warfare against fallen angels, with kingdom claims at stake. Answers to
prayer may be hastened or delayed as a result of this warfare.
“But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me
twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me,
because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come [in
response to prayer, having been immediately dispatched, but delayed three weeks
in warfare]…Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I
was detained there with the King of Persia…Soon I will return to fight against
the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come…No one
supports me against them except Michael, your prince…” (10:13-14, 20-21)
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