3 Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Da 9:3.
Do you remember what your last prayer was about? I would have to say that most of the time I would have to think hard about it unless it was a dire situation. I pray many prayers throughout the day and most of them are “say it and forget it” prayers. Someone asks for prayer in a shotgun approach and I try my best to pray when I hear the request. It may just be an internal prayer and not even verbal. There could be a phone conversation when I tell the person that I will be praying for them. If I don’t pray for them on the phone sometimes I will pray immediately after hanging up the phone just so I don’t forget to make good on my promise. These are not my best moments.
In chapter 9 Daniel is serious in his communication with God. He identifies himself as a servant and pleads with God to have mercy. He establishes that God is sovereign and establishes that he is petitioning Him in total dependence. Daniel’s goal was that God answer his prayer but only if it glorified Himself.
Daniel didn’t only pray for himself. He acknowledged the sin of his nation as well as his personal sin and made it known to God that an answer would not come about because of his righteousness but because of God’s great mercy. My point is that Daniel approached God in prayer as an event, not as a formality.
The question I have to ask myself is this: If someone approached me in the manner that I approach God in prayer and asked me for something, would I be willing to listen and entertain their request? Take away the fact that I am not a Holy God but what does their posture (physical and spiritual) reveal, what does their tone (haughty or humble) reveal, and what do their words (eloquent or heart felt and desperate) reveal? Asking these questions makes me reflect on the motives, attitude and seriousness of my prayer. Communication with God is a privilege and I need to take it way more seriously and give God more respect and fear.