“And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.”

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭10:11-12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I’ve wondered at times if prayer really mattered. After all – if G-d is all knowing and all sufficient – if He knows the beginning and end of days – could my prayers really move Him and possibly impact an outcome?

According to the book of Daniel, yes. Daniel did two things that positioned himself to move the heart of G-d: he set his heart to understand G-d and he humbled himself before G-d. 

Daniel set – or nāṯan –his heart – in the Hebrew, the phrase means to apply or devote your heart to seek out something. Daniel’s faith was real to him. He was fully committed to it. His faith defined his life as ours should define us. The book of Daniel started with his steely determination not to defile G-d and the determination gave way to devotion. 

Second, Daniel humbled himself. The Hebrew word used here is ʿānâ and means to be humbled specifically by the discipline of fasting. 

Simply put, a life of devotion and fasting moved the heart of G-d. As my mentor and pastor says often, we are all worshipers – it’s the object of our worship that is the issue. People are devoted to many things but there’s only One that counts in the end.

Father – thank You for Your Word and for Your conviction. Forgive me for complicating Your presence. I desire to move Your heart – to be a part of Your plans and purposes in the earth. Help me to honor You above all else. Rekindle the fires of first devotion. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen. 

Daily Reading: Daniel 10-12

September 17, 2022