“ Anticipation Of An Answer”

 

DISCUSSION                                

                Prayer is a major part of the Christian faith, yet most Christians feel like their prayer life is inadequate.  One of the reasons why most feel as though their prayer life is not what it should be is because we don’t receive an answer as fast as we would like.   The prophet Daniel is known for his prayer life.  Even in the midst of the threat of being thrown into a den of lions, he continues his normal ritual of prayer.  In Daniel 9 we have recorded for us one of the prayers that Daniel prayed after reading from the letter form Jeremiah.  Within this prayer we see confession of sins, humility and an anticipation for an answer.  Notice Daniel’s final thoughts in this 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." (Daniel 9:17-19) As Daniel closes out his prayer, not only does he expect an answer, he expects it rather quickly.  His anticipation of an answer worked; notice the next few verses,  “While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the LORD my God for the holy hill of my God, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, "O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding.” (Daniel 9:20-22).  Daniel had faith in an answer.  Now, I am not suggesting that if every time we pray, we pray for God to not delay in His answer, that He will respond quickly. However, maybe it we prayed with a little more faith, God would respond to us quicker because of our faith.  I pray that we all will spend more time in prayer to God, desperately awaiting His response.  Maybe that prayer should sound a little bit like this, “Lord I pray that you will help me to have a faith like your servant Daniel, and thanks ahead of time.” Oh, for a faith like Daniel.

Prayer Requests:____________________________________________________________________________