Keys to the Successful Prayer

Daniel 9:18-19 For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God ESV

I really like Daniel's prayer for several reasons:

1. He hasn't gussied himself up for God so that the Father will look down and think "what a good boy, I've give you a treat." Daniel comes right out and says "I'm not asking this because I deserve it."

2. He asks because of God's mercy. God does desire to give to His children, but it isn't out of obiligation but because of mercy. It's not even out of our mercy, but His. Mercy is basically getting what you don't deserve.

3. Daniel asks God for four things associated with his prayer: "hear, forgive, pay attention, act." I like that. We come to God, who will not even hear our prayers unless we come through the Messiah, we ask for forgiveness because, frankly, we need it, then we ask God to focus on our situation and act. Make your prayers full of requests, not just statements or emotions (though those are good too). James says "You have not because you ask not."

4. Daniel asks God not for something that benefits him but benefits God. "For your own sake" he says. I like that. We should always want to give glory to God and if the thing we ask doesn't do that then maybe it's the wrong thing to ask for in the first place.

Pastor Tom