Jesse Liles

What was Daniel's essential prayer? This is what I would call renewal/revival for God's sake. It is more than seeing the human need....it is for God's sake and God's glory that Daniel appeals to. God will be glorified by Him answering this appeal. What are the various grounds of Daniel's appeal? Daniel appeals to God's precident of delivering Israel from Egypt; God's glory; God's righteousness; God's personal identification with Jerusalem; God's mercy; God centered worship How did God answer the prayer? God did hear and answer Daniel's prayer. The book of Ezra and Nehemiah reveal how God answered this by using pagan Kings to do God's will and send the people back to Jerusalem.

Daniel (in line with Ezekiel and other prophets) stands in the gap for his nation by identifying with his people. He lives in a land that has committed these sins. In order for him to pray he identifies with them as a sinner. He feels the weight of the burden of sin and out of love for the nation and for righteousness, he intercedes. This is similar to what Jesus did. He identified himself as the "son of man" fully understanding mankind's need for forgiveness. Jesus "stood in the gap" for us because He identified with us and because of His love for humans. Interceders must have that same kind of love today.

Q: What is Daniel's demeanor as he prays? How does he prepare? Why is this so important in this case? In what ways might you and I prepare for intercession? 9:3 says that Daniel turned to the Lord God, pleased with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, sackcloth and ashes. Daniel took the matter very seriously understanding they had deeply offended God's covenant. His outwards actions (fasting, sackcloth and ashes) reveal his heart is broken over what has broken God's heart. Daniel is humbly asking God to remember mercy upon His people and restore them. He reminds God in verse 4 of His own nature - God is great, awesome, and loving. Daniel prepared for this time of prayer by understanding God's concern for the nation. How can I prepare for intercession? First of all, to attempt to understand the situation from God's perspective by understanding God's expectations and how we have failed him. From that understanding we need a heart change to grieve over our condition and then to plead for God's mercy on us.

This prayer may be difficult to pray because we don't like being open and vulnerable because we aren't certain of God's forgiveness and grace. We have lived too long thinking that we are better than we are so to pray this prayer and have God reveal reality to us may be devasting to us. I think we want to believe that we are better than we really are. I think we feel that being stripped bare before the Lord is too vulnerable for us. We may not feel we know what to do with our guilt/shame. I often pray this prayer and have become aware of God's grace. It can lead to a constant need/dependence upon God for our greatest need: forgiveness and justification. Can a person be a genuine disciple without praying this kind of prayer? He certainly will be a proud person and self sufficient person and thus won't be trusting in God's provision of grace.

This thought helps me to see that I am not an accident - I was created for God's creative purpose. God's providential care worked through the human element of my mother and father to create me with the strengths and weaknesses that I have. A young woman carrying a child (and a father to be) can take hope in the providential nature of God that He has something great planned for their child. They can praise God that God is creating someone made in His own image. The thought is overwhelming because God's providence uses human's choices and behaviors to accomplish His will.

Verses 5 and 10 describe David's sense that he is hemmed in by God - this is an intimate knowledge of not escaping God's attention and care. God has providential knowledge and care over all areas of our life. I can see God's hand in my life as I look backward at it. I am not always conscious of His hand in the present but certainly see it in perspective. I can see those times of crisis of decision making where God hemmed me in and then helped me to make the right decision. Was it for my good? Always it was for my good and His glory

Q4. Why should we continually ask forgiveness? How can unforgiveness on our part block God's blessing? How can unforgiveness block God's forgiveness? We continually ask for forgiveness because of our sinful actions that come from a sinful life. Unforgiveness on our part leads us to believe that we are equal to God and can practice perfect justice but we can't. Unforgiveness is like having a fist closed and not open to receive what God desires to give us.

Q3. Why do we seek to be independent of asking anyone for help? Why do we seek to be independent of God? Why should we ask God to "give" us daily bread so long as we can earn a living for ourselves? Sin has such an inward grip on us that we think that life is all about "us." By nature we are at best "practicing deists." Sometimes even when we are aware of the need to depend upon God we are not certain of what God is responsible for and what we humans are responsible for doing. The fall of mankind has brought about a perversion in our thinking and we need liberated from it. "Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory," said Paul. Not only does sin affect us, but our environment does as well. Most people in the U.S.A. have an over abundance of food and other material items that we take them for granted and don't see the need to depend upon God. We become practical atheists, that is we believe in God's existence but live as if he doesn't. These blessings have become curses when we begin to think that we can do without God. How do we overcome that? We begin to pray and watch how God provides for us. We begin a "God watch."

. In what sense are we asking that the Father's kingdom should come? Why are we asking for the Father's will to be done here on earth? How should this prayer affect our living? I think one of the greatest metaphors for God's kingdom is the lamb and the lion lying down together, the child plays with the snakes den and is not injured. The Father's kingdom is one of ultimate justice and mercy. It is more than the absence of conflict/war but the presence of God's Shalom (Peace). All of creation has been restored to its paradisical qualities. Relationships are open, vulnerable and loving. No one has abundance while another starves - everyone shares freely in God's bounty. Why are we asking for the Father's will to be done on earth? We are asking because we can't make it happen. I also see the injustices in the world and long for the injustices to be done away with. How should this prayer affect our living? When God's kingdom becomes our desire then we begin to work with God to bring about better justice and more mercy. We join with God in our cries against injustices (Sudan etc) and get involved in missions to feed the hungry, care forthe sick, evangelize the lost etc.. Evangelistm becomes important because a changed world requires people whose lives are changed.

Q1. What about our lives and words "hallows" the name of our Father? What desecrates and besmirches it? How should we "hallow" the Father when we begin to pray? I find it hard to put into words this attitude of fearful reverence of God that we are to have. It is an attitude that expresses itself in behavior which honors God and shows that He is premier in our lives. Shaming God's name would be to have an attitude that doesn't recognize that He has first place. That list would be long if we listed all of those behaviors. How should we "hallow" the Father when we begin to pray? I'm not certain there are steps to doing this but perhaps some movements. I think it begins with thoughts about who God is: there is none like Him. He is perfect in all ways. His ways are above our ways. After thinking then put those thoughts into words as you express to God aloud His greatness, glory, might, power etc.. This thinking may lead to bodily expression of God's presence (kneeling, bowing etc.) but the thoughtful reflection of God comes first and then the physical expression (not vice versa). I do think you have to be careful to not make a formula of this. The physical expression of this worshp will depend upon one's culture.

Hello, I am a pastor in Arizona that desires to learn from others. This is my first time to be involved in an on line study. I am looking forward to it.