December 20th, 2023

​"And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes." (Daniel 9:3).

Daniel provided an example of prayer full of emotion. Although, it was not an emotional prayer but an authentic one, “for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.” (v. 18) Authentic prayer will require us to lay aside every weight that besets us (Hebrews 12:1), and go boldly before the throne of grace (Hebrews 14:6), so that we do not pray amiss (James 4:3). In doing so, it allows us to more expediently execute prayers of faith as did Daniel, “seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes,” until we hear from God. 

Charles Spurgeon wrote, “God often DELAYS IN ANSWERING PRAYER. Jacob did not get the blessing from the angel until near the dawn of day-he had to wrestle all night for it. The poor woman of Syrophenicia was not answered for a long while. Paul besought the Lord thrice that ‘the thorn in the flesh’ might be taken from him, and he received no assurance that it should be taken away, but instead a promise that God's grace should be sufficient for him…Our Father has reasons for keeping us waiting. Sometimes it is to show his power and his sovereignty, that men may know that Jehovah has a right to give or to withhold.” 

May we pray as Daniel until the Lord answers, “I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.” (v. 22)

GiGi❤️