“Prayer Doesn’t Change Things”

“Prayer doesn’t change things. God does in response to proper prayers.”

     Crises.  When people find themselves in trouble they often cry out to God for help. They make all kinds of promises to Him if only He will rescue them in their crisis. Have you ever done this?  How many vows have you failed to keep?

     Captives.  Because of their disobedience to God, the Jews had been taken from their homeland into Babylon as captives.  Seventy years later the Medo-Persians defeated the Babylonians and allowed the Jews to return to rebuild the Temple and the city of Jerusalem.  Things were going to change dramatically.  So Daniel went to God in prayer.  Let’s consider it.

     Worship/Adoration. The first thing that Daniel did was to earnestly focus his attention on the Lord (Daniel 9:3). When one worships God and sees Him as He really is (John 4:24), it will have a very humbling affect on him.  This was true with Isaiah the prophet (Isaiah 6:5) and with the Apostle John (Revelation 1:9-18). Remember, God cannot and will not be deposed from His throne. God laughs at those who try (Psalm 2).

     Sackcloth And Ashes. To express the true condition of his heart, Daniel fasted, and covered himself with sackcloth and ashes. He was made aware of how awesome God truly is. The prophecy concerning the 70 years of Jewish captivity in Babylon had been fulfilled (Jeremiah 25:11-14). But he wanted to know more about the Jew’s future. How and when would the Messiah come? How would the other world empires treat the Jews in the days to come?  When would the “times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24) come to an end?

     Daniel’s Prayer. It was urgent. He wanted and expected some clear answers to his questions (Psalm 91:15; 143:1). He had full confidence in God’s ability to keep His covenants (promises) concerning the land that the Jews will inherit in the future (Genesis 15:18) and to give him additional information.  By the way, do you know the boundaries that God set for them to inherit?    

     Honest Confession. As one who was in a covenant relationship with God, Daniel acknowledged that he and the Jews had broken God’s conditional covenant (The Ten Commandments) and they were suffering for it (Daniel 9:5, 15; Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 28:15ff). But the Lord God was eager to forgive and restore them if they would repent and confess their sins (Isaiah 55:7; Proverbs 28:13).  But pride dies hard.

     God’s Glory. God wants all His creatures to know that He is who He says He is (Daniel 9:17; Ezekiel 6:7, 10; 7:4; John 17:4). God’s own reputation was involved (Numbers 14:15, 16; Jeremiah 14:7, 21). Although He is immutable (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8), He is also mobile (i.e. He doesn’t have to keep doing what He chose to do just once – Examples: creation, Christ’s once and for all death for our sins). Man’s sinful purpose is to glorify himself (humanism) and to serve the creature rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25). The devil wants us to believe the lie that man can become a god (Genesis 3:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:11). Man can’t overthrow God no matter how hard he tires (Isaiah 9:7; Philippians 2:10; Revelation 19:16). He’d be wise to submit to Christ’s authority before it’s too late (Psalm 2:10-12).

     United States. While we don’t have the same promises to claim that the Jews do concerning the land of Israel (Genesis 15:8; Matthew 5:5), Christians can/should be good citizens and pray for and submit to those who are in authority over us (1 Timothy 2:1-4; Romans 13:1-7). Keep in mind that God sets up and brings down leaders in His time. He uses them to accomplish His purposes (Daniel 4:17, 25; Romans 9:17). He also wants to use ordinary people like you and me. Stop fretting (John 14:1-3). God is sovereign and He is in complete control of everything (Revelation 1:8). Christians can/should intercede for or against people (1 Timothy 2:1; Romans 11:2). Jesus, in heaven, does this for His own people (Hebrews 7:25).

     Christian Responsibilities. But most importantly, we should be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) and carry out the Great Commission and the New Commandment (Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 1:8; John 13:34, 35). Do you know what this involves?

     Help?  Would you like to learn more truth from God’s Word? Visit our web site: www.kelseypeach.com. You are invited to listen to our corresponding messages on the Internet.