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.

Bible Study Audio

The Daniel Prayer - Session 3 - Compelled To Pray

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. 

First a little review since we haven't met for two weeks. 

In our first session, Time To Pray.  The prayer that inspired Anne to write the book was the one prayed after Daniel read in Jeremiah's prophecy that the Jews’ exile would last 70 years.  He realized that the 70 years was about up so he prayed, on behalf, of the nation that God bring it to pass.

Jeremiah 29:10-14 NIV This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord , “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord , “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Daniel 9:4-19 NIV I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.  “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord , because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. “Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.  “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.  “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

He confessed the sins of the nation,

Daniel 9:4-6 NIV I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.

 He acknowledged that God was justified in punishing them,

Daniel 9:11-14 NIV  All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. “Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.

Then he asked that God answer and return them for His name sake. 

Daniel 9:17-19 NIV  “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

Anne writes that because Daniel prayed God put His plan into motion by moving Cyrus to issue the decree allowing all those who wanted to go to go and rebuild.  

Ezra 1:2-4 NIV  “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “ ‘The Lord , the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord , the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’ ”

 It was a prayer that moved heaven and Earth, and caused a nation to change.

Her question is is it possible that the prayer of one person could bring renewal, restoration, and revival to America?

Session 2 was Committed To Pray.   In that session we said that we need to make a commitment to pray and in order to do that we have to make preparations. 

 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.

Daniel had a specific place that he designated for prayer. 

We all need this kind of sacred space set aside for special time alone with God.

Daniel had a set time everyday to pray. We should too or we may get overwhelmed by the events of the day and not pray. It should be a time when when can think clearly and not worn out by the activity of the day.  In the morning before stuff happens is a great time.

We should set the atmosphere which probably includes the place a time we select for our time. The atmosphere should be one where we are comfortable and can shut everything out but God.

Daniel would open be in his house where the windows faced Jerusalem.

Then finally we need to prepare our attitude for prayer.  We should always be humble. 

Daniel would get on his knees.

Compelled To Pray

In this session we want to talk about being compelled to pray. The definition of compel is force or oblige (someone) to do something, bring about (something) by the use of force or pressure. synonyms: force, pressure, press, push, urge;

After reading Jeremiah, Daniel was compelled to pray for deliverance of the Jews and the end of  their exile  When we look at the conditions of our nation, some of our friends and family and ourselves we need to have an urgency in our prayers.  When we feel compelled to pray those prayers are usually filled with passion. 

When was the last time you heard someone pray to the point that you became more aware of the One to whom the person was speaking, than you were of the person doing the speaking?

Those are passionate prayers from deep down inside you.

Compelled By Problems In Our World

At the time that Daniel prayed this prayer there had just been a big change in his world and there was probably a great deal of uncertainty as to what was going to happen in Babylon in general and to the Jews specifically.

You remember the story of the night that king Belshazzar of Babylon was using the things taken from the temple in Jerusalem and there was the handwriting on the wall that Daniel interpreted which happened the night that he translated the writing.

Daniel 5:22-31 NIV “But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.  “This is the inscription that was written: mene, mene, tekel, parsin  “Here is what these words mean:  Mene  : God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.   Tekel  : You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.   Peres  : Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”  Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.  That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.

Daniel like probably most of the people in Babylon were wondering what was going to happen under the Medes. Daniel's solution was to pray but to also read, what was his scripture at that time.

 So he turned to scripture and after reading Jeremiah's prophecy he was compelled to pray.

We often have uncertainty in our lives.  It may be an illness, a change in location, a change in employment, retirement, and what's going on in the country and world. Those times often result in intense passionate prayer. 

Compelled By The Promises Of God

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The Daniel Prayer is not just an outpouring of heartfelt emotion and passionate pleading. It is an outpouring of heartfelt emotion and passionate pleading based on God’s Word, and the promises in His Word.

There is a promise in the Bible for every situation, problem,and circumstance.  You can go on the Internet and ask what the Bible says about X and you’ll get a lot of scripture. For example I typed what does the Bible say about praying for government here are a few.

Psalms 2:10-11 -  Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.  Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling.

Proverbs 11:14 - For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.

Proverbs 21:1 - The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.

Job 12:23-25 - He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them.

Romans 13:1-5 NIV Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

1 Peter 2:13-14 NIV Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.

Or what the Bible says about healing

Old Testament Healing Scriptures

He said, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”~ Exodus 15:26

Worship the LORD your God, and His blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you.~ Exodus 23:25

The Lord will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt.~ Deuteronomy 7:15

“See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.~ Deuteronomy 32:39

Have compassion on me, LORD, for I am weak. Heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.~ Psalm 6:2

For the LORD protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!~ Psalm 34:20

The LORD will sustain him upon his sickbed; In his illness, You restore him to health.~ Psalm 41:3

New Testament

And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.~ Acts 9:34

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.~ James 5:14-15

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.~ James 5:16

He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.~ 1 Peter 2:24

There are 2,350 verses in the Bible that address money in one way or another

Specific Personal Promises

God still speaks to us personally through His Word.  Often in my morning quiet time a devotional speaks to a specific issue and often ends up in a blog post. Often when I post something even it’s just a scripture or a sentence from something I read I get a note or comment “I needed that today”. That is a something specific that's the result of being compelled to pray.

This morning when I was going over our study for today the Holy Spirit gave me directions for new Scripture.

Ann and a lot of people suggest that you pray before reading you Bible.  When you pray open up and talk to God about what's going on and any things burdening you. The read your Bible.

So how do you read your Bible? Do you read it to increase your knowledge of the facts and information only? Or do you read it listening expectantly for God to speak to you, then talk to Him about what He has said, basing your prayers on it?

If our prayers are not rooted in what God has said, what is their basis? A wish? Or a want? or a hope-so?

For some people, prayer merely expresses their wishes or wants to God, and that's okay since He knows anyway, and sometimes it just helps to talk it out with Him.  That's what prayer really is anyway a conversation with God.  We just need to make sure that it's a two-way conversation. 

Prayer that moves Heaven and changes a nation, as well as changes your life and mine, is prayer that is based on God’s Word. If you have a specific need, want, wish, or hope, put it in the form of a request, then open your Bible and ask God to speak to you about it. He may even change the way you are praying.

When it seems that God doesn't hear or delays in answering we should trust that God keeps His promises.  When God burdens us with what burdens Him, our responsibility is to pray. Then we leave the answer up to Him. And who knows what will happen?

PROMISES THAT ARE CONDITIONAL

There are obviously no conditions on  salvation unless you consider believing and accepting as conditions. 

There are definitely conditions on other promises of God so when we pray God’s word we need to be mindful of the conditions associated with the promise.  In Daniel's case it was

 Jeremiah 29:10-14 NIV This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord , “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord , “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

We need to make sure when we are claiming all these things when we pray that we have met the conditions.  The way to do that is to read and study the Bible. Don't just grab the promise ànd forget about the promise. 

James 4:7-10 NIV  Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

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