Set Apart to Serve God

08/06/21 – 08/22/21

Humbling Ourselves in Prayer

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  08/21/21

Yesterday we looked at two key components of Daniel’s prayer found in Daniel 9:4-19: praise and confession. Today we will look at another two components of this righteous prayer to help us pray effectively.

Appeal for mercy. Daniel appealed to God’s mercy. He said, “Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, . . . For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. . . . We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy” (Daniel 9:16-18).

Acknowledge to God that you do not deserve His blessings, but you receive them because He is a merciful and loving God. Humble yourself before God, realizing that your strength and success come from Him alone.

Pray the will of God. In verse 19, Daniel prayed, “Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” How can you be assured that you are praying for God’s will—and not your own—to be done? Jesus said that we are to seek first the things of God and God will respond by taking care of our needs (see Matthew 6:33).

Immerse yourself in the Word of God. The more you know the mind of God, the more you will begin to understand what He wants for your life. As you pray for specific requests, always check them against Scripture. You can be sure God’s desires for you will never go against His Word. As you read God’s Word and study it, ask the Lord to give you a greater awareness of specific promises that He wants you to believe and dwell on in prayer.

We must pray with praise on our lips, with an open confession of our sin, and with a petition for God to act in the way that accomplishes His purposes and brings Him glory. Then, we must listen very closely to what God may lead us to say or do. God uses individual people to accomplish His purposes. Be ready and willing to be used.

Prayer: Father, I am unworthy of Your love and blessings, but I humbly receive them from You today. I pray that You would be glorified today in my life. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions” (Psalm 51:1).