Daniel 9:15-19 – Pray urgently

Daniel 9 is a chapter that illuminates the power of prayer. In the first fourteen verses, we witness Daniel’s journey, starting with a heartfelt confession and a humble acknowledgment of Israel’s sins. He courageously admits their unfaithfulness to the covenant, a crucial step towards redemption. In these verses, Daniel embarked on two crucial aspects of his prayer.  Firstly, he expressed profound adoration and acknowledged the immense greatness of God and His unwavering faithfulness.  Secondly, he humbly confessed and admitted their collective failure and disobedience.

Then in verse 15, he turns to cry out for mercy and forgiveness, a plea that pulsates with the weight of their transgressions. Verses 17-18 reveal the basis of Daniel’s prayer. His concern was God’s glory. Daniel’s primary consideration was God and His glory. He did not pray because of his and the people’s discomfort but for the will and fulfillment of God’s plan and glory.

Verse 19 unveils the essence of effective prayer, a plea that is not just asked, but implored with fervent earnestness and keen anticipation. Daniel’s prayer is a powerful example of this, as he cries out, “O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.” This is an urgent prayer, a prayer that urges God to give immediate attention and act swiftly.  

From Daniel’s prayer, we glean several lessons. Firstly, prayer is urgent because it reflects our dependence on God. In our busyness in life, we tend to forget God and take His blessings for granted. Prayer helps us to pause, reflect, and acknowledge God’s presence in our lives, and express our gratitude for all that He has done for us and is doing in our lives.

Secondly, prayer is urgent because it helps us to overcome our weaknesses. We all have struggles and shortcomings, and prayer allows us to seek God’s help in overcoming them. Through prayer, we can confess our sins and ask for forgiveness, receive strength to face our challenges.

Thirdly, prayer is urgent because it aligns our desires with God’s will. Often, we can become so consumed with our ambitions and desires that we forget to seek God’s guidance and direction. Prayer calls us to self-surrender and allows God to take control of our lives.

The urgency and importance of prayer cannot be overstated. For through prayer we deepen our relationship with God, overcome our weaknesses, and find true purpose and fulfillment in life. We must make prayer a priority, and seek God's guidance and blessings in all that we do each day.