…tally the times you see the word ‘we’ in Daniel’s prayer and record the total here: “16”
Put yourself in Daniel’s position. Why do you think he shared the blame for the sins of the masses even though he was innocent of many of their transgressions?
“He was honored to be Jewish and part of God’s chosen people in the bad as well as in the good, he held positions of authority and therefore took responsibility for the masses under his charge and (most reasonably) he was from Jewish nobility (raised with a silver spoon in his mouth) and for his first few years may have been part of the problem.”
What recent experiences – whether negative or positive – have caused you to come to this conclusion [that your prayers matter]?
“God is very faithful to me in the small stuff. Often I’m asking Him for guidance or help to unlock info already in my brain. In the bigger stuff, though, I pray, but I always feel like God has already decided and I’m not suddenly going to convince Him to change His mind and work a miracle.”
The prayer warriors of the Word often coupled their requests with remembrances like a lawyer cites a precedent before the judge hearing the case.
In this present season of your life, where are you desperate for God to wield his mighty arm?
“I know he won’t override free will and force anyone to be saved, but I desperately want him to work in Mom and Dad and soften or break their hard hearts, whichever it takes.”
As we draw to a close, read Daniel 9:18 once more. On what basis did this man of integrity make his requests?
“on behalf of the city which bears God’s name”
Dearest Rachel –
I have to agree with you about what you said about the “bigger stuff,” honey. Considering that, among other ridiculous ideas, I once thought that we, as a country, would be better served by a vacant White House (just as an example), I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t know about enough of the moving parts in the larger global ecosystem (be it literal, political, social or whatever) to consider my would-be solutions worth delivering to the Almighty for Him to implement. Leave the mechanisms of the world to function within His plan, and don’t try to make suggestions that would likely just make things that much worse.
At the same time, I also tend to forget to ask Him about the “small stuff” in my life. Maybe it’s a holdover from when we used to debate about parking spots with our mentors – does He concern Himself with such trifles or not? – or maybe it’s just a case of not thinking about Him when dealing with these small trials – thinking ‘I’ve got this’ as I try to handle it on my own. Sure, it’s possible these issues are small enough to handle on my own, but that’s no reason to keep the Father out of the loop (setting aside the obvious fact that He knows everything, so it isn’t as if He’s really ‘out of the loop’) when I’m beset by them. He wants to hear from me – not unlike my earthly Dad, for that matter (which is an advantage you and I have – or had – over so many people, it would seem).
Of course, as you point out, sometimes it’s hard to see what difference it makes to come to Him about a matter, whether great or small. Wherever you stand or fall on the predestination-free will continuum, we can all agree that God knows what’s going to happen – indeed, given that He’s not bound by time like we are (were? in your case), He might be said to have already been to what we call ‘the future’ and back; He knows every decision that has been and ever will be made throughout the history of humanity, and their consequences. Whether He plans it, or just lets it happen (to teach us a lesson), what can we say to Him to change that future?
But I suppose prayer hasn’t got anything to do with trying to change Him and His decisions. The point is to change ourselves, and get to a point where we try to be more in line with what He wants. This is probably part of why Daniel uses ‘we’ in this passage, too; he may be relatively blameless of the sins that led to the conquests of Israel and Judah and his resultant captivity, but he isn’t absolutely innocent, any more than the next human. But regardless, he is only able to change his own behavior, and thus he is contrite for his own failures, which he lumps in with that of the rest of his countrymen, and is penitent for.
All of which I need to consider as well, and make a point to speak to God on a more regular basis. Not just at mealtimes, or when I’m dealing with some struggle (like I was throughout those last few years in the work farce, as you may well remember), but as a constant underlying state. The Word talks about praying ‘without ceasing,’ which sounds impossible – it’s as if one is constantly multitasking it with whatever else one is trying to do – when in reality, it could better be likened to a computer being plugged into an outlet. The machine isn’t always on and running, but it’s receiving power the whole time it’s hooked up. Meanwhile, while certain types can function for a while without being thus plugged in, sooner or later, you run down, and need to be re-energized by your connection to the One that powers you. I need to figure out how better to put that into practice.
I don’t think I’ve gotten to the point where, as Agur put it, I have so much that I simply say “Who is the Lord?” I know how much He’s provided – and I know how much of it is by His grace, and not my own efforts – it’s just that all too often, I forget to make sure I’m plugged in, spiritually, and I don’t check in with Him like I ought to. At least when I go through these notes of yours, I find myself reminded of that, and make notes of my own to correct that going forward (even though I’m not always sure how).
To that end, then, I’d like to ask that you keep an eye on me, honey, and wish me luck; I’m going to need it.
Letters to Rachel 