Observation: Daniel well understood the prophesy of Jeremiah and fully believed them. He knew that the time for their reconciliation was approaching. Given both those things - and with faith that God's word was true - he could have sat around and done nothing, waiting for the 70 years to arrive. He didn't do that! Instead, he actively engaged ... he prayed to God for forgiveness of the people, and he humbled himself before God. Eventually, he himself would introduce Darius to God in such a way that Darius declares God to be the true God and creates the environment for Babylon's release of the Jews (recounted in Daniel 6).
Application: I admit, I do not always understand prayer. I understand talking to God - my father, my daddy, abba - and seeking to be in community with him. I understand seeking forgiveness, and confessing my thoughts and deeds even though I know he already knows them all ... this is a right attitude of humility one should have toward your Lord.
The part I don't understand is praying for something you absolutely know God already wants as well, or is planning to do. It doesn't make sense to me that God would want us to agree to something he already is planning to do - that he has already promised to do. God doesn't NEED us to agree with him, or to join with him, or to act for him, or to convince him, or to remind him.
But the point I need to learn is, God ALLOWS us to participate with him. He doesn't need us, but we need him, and he creates the situations that allow believers to agree/engage/discuss/act with him. He does this FOR US.
So prayer in these situations must be the same. God encourages us to pray and ask for things that we already know he too wants, so that we may feel rewarded by our Lord and thankful for his love. Engaging with God isn't for him ... it is for us.
Prayer: Lord, I will seek to pray more about everything - not things I want, but things you want too. I welcome the chance to engage into your will through both prayer and deed.
No comments:
Post a Comment