Prayer Journal
Thursday, January 24, 2002
"As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed". Daniel 8:23
Daniel was a man, about whom nothing negative is known from Scripture. But, no man, save the Lord Jesus is perfect, and we can be sure Daniel had his faults like any other.
But Daniel believed God, he trusted God, he talked to God, he listened to God and he acted on only that which he felt was God's will. If a batting average for pray-ers was kept, Daniel would probably be second only behind Jesus percentage of answered prayers.
That raises an interesting question. We know from Scripture that certain things keep prayers from being heard, such as sin, a husband's neglect for his wife's needs, wrong motive, etc. But if a person is confessed up and in full right standing with God, will God answer their prayer?
The answer to that question is found in Daniel 8:23 and many other places in Scripture. God hears as soon as we pray and answers if we have not obstructed it by our unconfessed sin. But the appropriate timing is in God's will. We must wait to receive the answer, even though it's "already on the way".
I ask this question then; "What is our responsibility as pray-ers, when we have taken our petition to God and know nothing exists in our life that would prevent His answer? I can only tell you what Daniel did.
Daniel acted as if his prayer was answered, even though he could not "see" the answer. When the answer did arrive, Daniel was waiting on it. He did not give up, stop praying, complain or stay in one place waiting for everyone to see the answer. He continued doing the things he knew pleased God and let God handle the answer. His role was knowing God's will and praying that it would fall down all around him.
What about you? When you've prayed and there is no immediate and apparent answer, what do you do? And then, when the answer does come, will it take you by surprise because you've long stopped praying for it?
Just Thinkin'... WebServant
Scripture comes from
the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International
Bible Society
Copyright © 2001, James
R. Green and Prayertower Ministries - All Rights Reserved
Pray today for...
* 1. My spouse
* 2. My children
* 3. Their friends
* 4. My friends
* 5. My employer
* 6. My city
* 7. My country
* 8. Civic leaders
* 9. Schools
* 10. Teachers
* 11. The sick
* 12. The lost
* 13. Those in despair
* 14. The hospitalized
* 15. The grieving
* 16. Widows
* 17. Orphans
* 18. My church
* 19. My pastor
* 20. Church leaders
* 21. Other churches
* 22. Persecuted church
* 23. Missionaries
* 24. Myself
