Devotionals

Effectual Praying By Henry Jaegers

by Henry Jaegers
10/26/20
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DANIEL CHAPTER NINE

Daniel Prays for His People
 Part #2 Determined Praying

 So, I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. (Daniel 9:3)

            What motivates people to pray? Perhaps that is the question we need to ask first. A poem I heard a long time ago asks this important question: “I often say my prayers at night but do I ever pray?” As we continue examining this prayer of Daniel, hopefully, we can catch this passion and concern that he had.

            The first thing we note about Daniel’s praying is that he had a genuine love and concern over those for whom he was praying. Paul the Apostle had a similar concern for his fellow Jews, so much that he was willing to forfeit his own salvation if it were possible, for them to find eternal life. (Read Romans 9:1-3 and 10: 1-3) I hear Christians often repeat “You are in our thoughts and prayers” but I often wonder if they are telling the truth. Only God Knows.

            The second thing I see in his determination is his willingness to do anything necessary to get God’s attention. This includes self-denial, a sacrifice of our regular systems, and making an effort to follow through. . Recently I decided to be more determined and faithful in my own prayer life. To do so I made up a list and pasted it on my computer light and go over it before I go to bed each night. I go to sleep praying with these in mind. It has helped. Do you share the concern that Daniel had for his kinsman according to the flesh?  Please learn from the example of Daniel. Perhaps you may experience the answers that he did. 

DANIEL CHAPTER NINE
Daniel Prays for His People
 Part #3 Identification

            And I prayed to the Lord my God, and confessed and said “alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and loving-kindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity.” (Daniel 9:4) 

             In these verses, we see something in Daniel’s prayer that may be missing in ours. It was enough that Daniel who was not guilty of any of the transgressions of his fellow Israelites approaches the Holy God in true humility of heart as though he were praying for himself. Praying for others involves a pure heart on my part. In Psalm 66:18, David said, “if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me”. It is a serious matter when we set off to begin praying for others. It involves soul searching and a determined effort to be heard by God.

            Have you experienced this type of praying, when the great need of others becomes a passionate reason for you to pray?  Sometimes the pain we feel for them is greater than their sense of need. When I expressed my concern for another’s need, he replied “Oh you don’t have to worry about that” As though I was about to have a nervous breakdown over them.

            Daniel wanted to know that there was nothing amiss in his own life as he approached God on behalf of others. True confession involves opening my heart to the searchlight of the Holy Spirit. Here is the appropriate prayer offered by David.

             “Search me O God, and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. ( Psalm 139: 23,24)” 

DANIEL CHAPTER NINE
Daniel Prays for his people
 Part # 4 Confession

  ‘And I prayed to the Lord my God, and confessed and said: “alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and loving-kindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity.” (Daniel 9:4)
           

The subject of confession requires several devotionals. There are two truths that our text focuses on that describe Daniel’s relationship with God.
  The first is confessing the failure to recognize God¡¯s faithfulness. He is faithful in His person and faithful in His promises. While recently addressing a group of men in a homeless shelter, I explained to them three important truths about God that He wants us to know and remember. First that God is a good God. Second that God never makes a mistake and third God has our best interests at heart. We must remember this especially when times are difficult and the enemy of our soul’s desires to give our loving God a bad name. That was his first strategy in the Garden. God did¡¯t mean that. He is trying to keep you from really enjoying life. If you take from that tree you will find life. Instead, they found out that God indeed does keep His promise, and that day, thanks to Satan¡¯s lies, they discovered Death. 
           

The second thing he confessed is the failure of unbelief. Behind all disobedience is the sin of unbelief. The people did not enter the Promised land because they failed to believe God. Unbelief is a deliberate choice against the promise of God. Are you willing to take the risk that faith requires to take God at His word and forsake the sin of unbelief?

             DANIEL CHAPTER NINE
            Daniel Prays for His People
              Part # 5 Intercession
                                  
We have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly, and rebelled, even turning aside from Thy commandments and ordinances. (Daniel 9:5)

            The sin that Daniel is addressing is one that is far from being his own. By entering this prayer, he understands how serious this sin is. Unlike the sin of ignorance, this one involves an exercising of free will. Considering the knowledge of God’s righteousness and the consequences that such rebellion brings, the people decided to go against God and take the chance that God will overlook their sin.

            There is a lesson to be learned from Daniel. Here is one man praying on behalf of a people who were unable to pray for themselves and be heard of God. Is it possible that God could hear the prayer of one man of God and forgive a whole nation of unrepentant people? Perhaps: Moses in praying for these same Israelites was willing to have his name blotted out of God’s book for them to receive God’s pardon. (Exodus 32:32) Paul the apostle expressed similar prayer for Israel. (Romans 9: 1-3). These verses also tell us of the great mercy of God in accepting the prayers of one righteous person to intercede for those who cannot help themselves.

             In James 5: 16, we are told that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much.” Oh, that we might take this matter of intercession seriously and be willing to stand in the gap for those who cannot deliver themselves. It is in line with God’s purposes that we become such warriors of prayer and it is equally in line with God’s person to answer those prayers.