Daniels Petition

Word for Today:
"Now therefore O our God, listen to the prayer of our servant and his plea for mercy, and for our own sake O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate." Daniel 9:18

Having acknowledged and confessed his sins, Daniel presented his requests. In James 5:16 we learn that the prayer of a righteous man is very effective, while James used Elijah as an example, here we see Daniel another righteous man in action.

He asks the Lord to turn away his face from his holy city Jerusalem. He asks God to listen to his prayer and make his face shine upon his sanctuary.

In essence, Daniel was asking the Lord to restore his favour which He has withheld from his people because of their sins. To bring back His people from captivity and make Jerusalem once again a glorious city as well as restore the worship at the temple in Jerusalem.

In all these it was not mere national pride that was behind Daniels prayer rather, it was the glory of God and the basis for his petition was not their righteousness rather the great mercy of God.

Daniel did not pray for himself. Not that it is bad to pray for oneself, but he was consumed by the passion for the glory of God and the desire for the well being of Jerusalem. Examine yourself, are your prayers for Gods glory or for your own selfish ends.

Prayer:
Lord, please teach me to seek your glory alone; change my prayers!