The Daniel Prayer - Session 4 - Centered In Prayer

The Church of Divine Guidance Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study Group studying the book The Daniel Prayer:  Prayer That Moves Heaven And Changes Nations By Anne Graham-Lotz.  

James 5:16 (NLT2) ¹⁶  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 

The Daniel Prayer is born deep within your soul, erupts through your heart, and pours out on your lips, words created by and infused with the Spirit of God quivering with spiritual electricity. It’s really not an everyday type of prayer. It’s a prayer birthed under pressure. Heartache. Grief. Desperation. It can be triggered by a sudden revelation of hope. An answer to prayer, a promise freshly received, a miracle that lies just over the horizon.

Study along with us by getting a copy of the book by clicking this LINK or the image of the book in the study notes. 

PRAYER IS LIFE’S COMPASS

If you need a compass point you in the right direction to reach a specific destination the prayer is our compass for life. When I was a Boy Scout, the short time participated they taught us how to use a compass. We we always supposed to know where north was and knowing that we could find the destination we were trying to reach.  If prayer is our compass then God is our North.  When we pray He should be our focus.

Before Daniel, who is our example in this study, prayed he set his compass.  He found his north. 

Daniel 9:3 NIV  So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

I say he did even more than that

In our second session we talked about Daniel's preparation;

He had a specific place, a specific time in his place he had set the atmosphere, and he came with a humble attitude.   

Anne sets her compass by starting with worshipping God and centering on the attribute or attributes that are relevant that day or time.  The focus is on God We looked at some of God’s attributes in several of our studies over the years.

We all know certain truths about God:

●     He is love - 1 John 4:8-10 (HCSB)⁸  The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.⁹  God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.¹⁰  Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

●     He is faithful - 1 Corinthians 1:9 (HCSB)⁹  God is faithful; you were called by Him into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.; 2 Timothy 2:13 (HCSB)¹³  if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.;  1 John 1:9 (HCSB)⁹  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

●     He is patient - 2 Peter 3:9 (HCSB)⁹  The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

●     He is forgiving - Isaiah 43:25-26 (HCSB)²⁵  “It is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more.²⁶  Take Me to court; let us argue our case together. State your ⌊case⌋, so that you may be vindicated.; 1 John 1:9 (HCSB)⁹  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.; Ephesians 1:7 (HCSB)⁷  We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

Delights in and takes pleasure in me. - Psalm 147:11 (HCSB)¹¹  The LORD values those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His faithful love.;  Zephaniah 3:17 (HCSB)¹⁷  Yahweh your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will bring ⌊you⌋ quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy.”

Cares about even the smallest details of my life - Matthew 6:31-32 (HCSB)³¹  So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’³²  For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.;   Luke 12:6-7 (HCSB)⁶  Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.⁷  Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows!

Pities (has compassion on) me when I’m hurting - Psalm 72:12-14 (HCSB)¹²  For he will rescue the poor who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper.¹³  He will have pity on the poor and helpless and save the lives of the poor.¹⁴  He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious in his sight.; Isaiah 63:9 (HCSB)⁹  In all their suffering, He suffered, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. He redeemed them because of His love and compassion; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of the past.;  2 Corinthians 13:3-4 (HCSB)³  since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me. He is not weak toward you, but powerful among you.⁴  In fact, He was crucified in weakness, but He lives by God’s power. For we also are weak in Him, yet toward you we will live with Him by God’s power.

Is patient with and understanding of my weaknesses and failures - Psalm 103:12-14 (HCSB)¹²  As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.¹³  As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.¹⁴  For He knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.;  Hebrews 4:15-16 (HCSB)¹⁵  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.¹⁶  Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.

Wants to help me out of the messes I get myself into - Psalm 40:1-3 (HCSB)¹ I waited patiently for the LORD, and He turned to me and heard my cry for help.²  He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure.³  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.; Isaiah 61:7 (HCSB)⁷  Because your shame was double, and they cried out, “Disgrace is their portion,” therefore, they will possess double in their land, and eternal joy will be theirs. (The double glory or blessing of (a) membership in God's family, (b) possession of Christ himself as their indwelling Lord and Companion. - The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.)

Enjoys sharing His heart with me - Psalm 25:14 (HCSB)¹⁴  The secret counsel of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He reveals His covenant to them.;  Matthew 11:25-26 (HCSB)

²⁵  At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to infants.²⁶  Yes, Father, because this was Your good pleasure.

Likes to hear what I think and feel - Psalm 62:8 (HCSB)⁸  Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge.Selah; 1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)⁷  casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

Is always happy to see me, even when I’ve sinned against Him - Luke 15:1-2, 11-24 (HCSB)¹  All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to Him.²  And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!” ¹¹  He also said: “A man had two sons.¹²  The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them.¹³  Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living.¹⁴  After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing.¹⁵  Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.¹⁶  He longed to eat his fill from the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him any.¹⁷  When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger!¹⁸  I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.¹⁹  I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired hands.’²⁰  So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.²¹  The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’²²  “But the father told his slaves, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.²³  Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast,²⁴  because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

Always has time for me - Deuteronomy 31:6 (HCSB)⁶  Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. (Pastors song);  Psalm 139:7-10 (HCSB)⁷  Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?⁸  If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.⁹  If I live at the eastern horizon ⌊or⌋ settle at the western limits,¹⁰  even there Your hand will lead me; Your right hand will hold on to me.; Hebrews 13:5 (HCSB)⁵  Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.

Wants to rescue me when I’m in trouble - Psalm 91:14-15 (HCSB)¹⁴  Because he is lovingly devoted to Me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows My name.¹⁵  When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor.; 2 Timothy 4:18 (HCSB)¹⁸  The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.; 2 Peter 2:9 (HCSB)⁹  ⌊then⌋ the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,

We can also go back to our last study of the prayer that turned the world upside down, and how Jesus said we should start our prayer by acknowledging God as our Father and asking that He make Himself strong in the world.

 Matthew 6:9-10 NIV “This, then, is how you should pray:  “ ‘Our Father in heaven,  hallowed be your name,   your kingdom come,  your will be done,  on earth as it is in heaven.

He begins, instead, by identifying the character of the God as our Father.  Scripture affirms that we only come to know God as our Father personally when through faith in Christ we are adopted into God’s family.  While all the names of God are important in many ways, the name “Abba Father” is one of the most significant names of God in understanding how He relates to people. The word Abba is an Aramaic word that would most closely be translated as “Daddy.” It was a common term that young children would use to address their fathers. It signifies the close, intimate relationship of a father to his child, as well as the childlike trust that a young child puts in his “daddy.”

The first line of Jesus’ prayer focuses our attention on God and not on ourselves. Jesus teaches us that God is our imminent Father. He is the transcendent one in heaven. He is the one who reveals and names himself. And our chief concern in prayer is not our own comfort but God’s glory.

To center yourself you need to be in your God space where it's just you and God.

PRIVACY MATTERS WHEN WE PRAY

Prayer Room

When Daniel turned to God, it’s implied that he turned away from everyone and everything else so that he could pray privately.  He did it on his house at least three times every day.

Daniel 6:10 NIV Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Here is another example of Daniel going off by himself to pray:

Daniel 2:14-23 NIV When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.  Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.  He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.  He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.  I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”

Jesus emphasized privacy in prayer.

We talked about that too in our last study.

Matthew 6:5-8 NIV “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

 Then He set a personal example of repeatedly seeking His Father in private prayer:  “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Big things happened afterwards

Luke 5:16 NIV But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Matthew 14:6, 8-10, 12-13 NIV On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.  When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.

Luke 6:12-13 NIV One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:

Luke 9:18-20 NIV Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”  They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”   “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

Luke 22:39-46 NIV Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”  He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”  An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.  When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Our modern life is not conducive to private prayer, is it?  That's why we must be intentional in preparation. We need a time, place, atmosphere, and attitude.

SINCERITY MATTERS WHEN WE PRAY

Ann say forsaking everything to make the time to get alone with God and pray is a form of fasting.  I had never thought of fasting in that way. Yes I knew that you could fast something other than food but I had not view it like An did. She really says that fervent prayer, the kind of prayer that Daniel prayed is fasting. Because in prayer we are turning away from everything and to God. 

Pastor Clayton often fasts and when he does and he asks us to join him it's more than just giving up but it includes prayer otherwise it's just a dieting technique. 

Do you have any examples of fasting during a season of prayer for a specific answer?

I want to read something that I read in my quiet time yesterday:

I’m more and more convinced that the answer to every prayer is more of the Holy Spirit.

Need more power? Then you need more of the Holy Spirit. Need more wisdom? Then you need more of the Holy Spirit. Need more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control? Then you need more of the Holy Spirit.

We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, but we have to empty ourselves first. And one of the best ways to empty ourselves is through fasting.

When I have a big decision to make, I circle it with a fast. It doesn’t just purge my body; it purges my mind and spirit as well. It also purges my motives.

When I need a breakthrough, I circle it with a fast. It doesn’t just break down the challenges I’m facing; it also breaks down the calluses in my heart.

An empty stomach may be the most powerful prayer posture in Scripture.

It’s even more powerful than kneeling! It shows God that we mean business. And when we fast, God makes our business His business!

Maybe there is something you’ve been praying for that you need to start fasting for. You need to take it to the next level. Draw a double circle by fasting for a friend or a family member. During our forty-day prayer challenge, small groups turned into prayer circles by fasting for friends who were battling cancer or applying for jobs or fighting to save marriages. And the answers were absolutely amazing. If you double-circle things with prayer and fasting, don’t be surprised if you receive a double blessing!

If you want to break the sin habit, you’ve got to establish a prayer habit.

Excerpted with permission from Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson, copyright Mark Batterson.

NECESSITY MATTERS WHEN WE PRAY

Privacy and sincerity certainly matter to God when we pray. And He also honors our crying out to Him when we have no one else to turn to and nowhere else to go. When we feel there is no other person who can understand our pain, God is there for us.

We have example after example in the Psalms of David and others crying out.

When have you been in such a hard place, you were desperate? When have you had noone to turn to? No doctor or lawyer, no friend or family member, no priest or pastor no boss or business colleague. No one that you could call for help. To be all alone in your world can be a very vulnerable and terrifying place.

Daniel showed his desperation by dressing in sackcloth

 Daniel 9:3 NIV So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

Sackcloth and ashes were used in Old Testament times as a symbol of debasement, mourning, and/or repentance. Someone wanting to show his repentant heart would often wear sackcloth, sit in ashes, and put ashes on top of his head. Sackcloth was a coarse material usually made of black goat’s hair, making it quite uncomfortable to wear. The ashes signified desolation and ruin.

Very simply, sackcloth and ashes were used as an outward sign of one’s inward condition. Such a symbol made one’s change of heart visible and demonstrated the sincerity of one’s grief and/or repentance. It was not the act of putting on sackcloth and ashes itself that moved God to intervene, but the humility that such an action demonstrated.

This is the kind of desperation where you know that if God doesn't intervene you're done for, and you don't care who knows it. You have no pride at all.

HUMILITY MATTERS WHEN WE PRAY

This ends part one Preparing for Prayer next week we will start part two Pleading in Prayer.

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