Preparing

Preparing ourselves for the Global Day of Prayer for America – Following Daniel’s Example

As we prepare our hearts to pray on September 22nd - the Global Day of Prayer for America, God calls us to humble ourselves before Him. In light of His holiness and our sinfulness, our only hope is a return to the cross of Christ and the grace of the gospel. God says he opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

One of the great men in Scripture who humbled himself before the Lord on behalf of his people is Daniel. Daniel’s prayer in 9:1-23 is a great template for us as we humble ourselves and cry out for mercy on behalf of the church in America. Daniel’s prayer was a desperate plea on behalf of his nation – Judah – that had come under God’s judgement. For seventy years, his people were held in captivity by the Babylonians, and separated from God’s place of blessing. God had repeatedly forewarned the nation that if there was no national repentance of sin, judgement would fall. Daniel was 15 years old when he was captured by the Babylonians and exiled to a foreign land 800 miles east of Jerusalem. Yet through it all Daniel glorified the Lord by his character, conduct, life of prayer and deep humility. Daniel had prepared his heart for many years before he prayed his prayer in Daniel 9.

We wonder at times why our prayers don’t move heaven and change nations – is it because we lack preparation?

How do we prepare our hearts for prayer when we need God in a desperate condition?

As Daniel 6:10 writes:

“Daniel went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God”

Daniel had a prepared place to pray – he went to his upstairs room and pray.
Daniel had a prepared time – praying 3 times a day.
Daniel had a prepared position – on his knees in humble submission before the Lord.
Daniel had a prepared attitude – calling on the Lord with thanksgiving even in the midst of difficult circumstances.

In Daniel 9, Israel had now been in captivity for 67 years. Daniel was asking God to set his people Israel free. The basis of his prayer was the promise he found in God’s word in Jeremiah that after 70 years, God would set his people free. He laid claim to that promise – he prayed for the answer with the answer in mind and his prayer was answered – three years later – Israel was set free!

Many of us look at our nation today – a nation in distress – a church divided – and wonder what can one person do?

I believe one person can pray, touching and moving God’s heart and releasing his power in a nation! Daniel was such a man, and you and I can follow his example.

What Biblical promise are we contending for in this day?

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble”

We would all agree that both in the church and in our nation, we are in desperate need of the ‘GRACE of GOD.’ We certainly don’t deserve it. As we discover in Daniel’s prayer, it is not ultimately about us – it is God’s name that is at stake in our nation today!

“O Lord hear, O Lord forgive. O Lord pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God” I want to encourage us to pray through the prayer in Daniel 9:1-23 during this Global Day of Prayer for America.

Let’s Exalt the Lord

“I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,” Daniel 9:4

Let’s Confess our Sins on behalf of the church (God’s people) in America

Daniel 9:5 (ESV), “We have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.”

Daniel 9:8 (ESV), “To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.”

Daniel 9:10 (ESV), “and have not obeyed
the voice of the LORD our God by walking
in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.”

Let’s Remember the Mercy of God

Daniel 9:15–16 (ESV), “And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 16 “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us”

Let’s Plead with Desperation for Mercy

Daniel 9:17–18 (ESV), “Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy”

We can be assured that if we will humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God, call on his name, pleading according to his will and for his renown, He will release his power in response to our prayers!

Father, make Your Name Great Again in America!

Malachi 1:11 (ESV), “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts”

I am very much looking forward to praying with you on September 22nd.

Love you all,

Dr Jason Hubbard – Director International Prayer Connect

“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite”