Scripture

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...”
(Daniel 10:12)

Devotional

The psalmist said, “I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice...”(1) And the Lord said to Daniel, I heard your voice because, “You set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself.” And God did so from the beginning of Daniel’s prayer. God is no respecter of persons. If we do likewise, God will hear answer and us. The problem often arises when we fail to do our part. We do not want to understand, we just want. And we do not humble ourselves, we ask out of a heart of pride. Therefore, even if God answers, we reject His answer. When we seek understanding and ask humbly, we will in turn accept with peace the answer of the Lord. Let us remember that we will not always get what we ask, but we can always trust His answer. Daniel gives us a key to prayer: setting our hearts to understand and do so humbly.

(1) Psalm 116:1

Text For The Day

Daniel 10:12: 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.”

Thought For The Day

“A man that cometh warm from holy meditation, or fervent prayer, doth bring upon his heart a fullness of matter, and an earnest desire, and a fitness to communicate that good to others, which he himself hath felt.” Richard Baxter, (1615-1691), Puritan evangelist, Special Directions for Christian Conference.

Questions To Ponder

Does God hear all prayer the same?
What does it take to amplify our prayers?
Do you pray the same for a blessing of a meal as the blessing of your family?

Morning Study Guide

Defining: “Your words were heard”: Prayer is more than a feeling, emotion or wish, it is first a cognitive, verbal communication with the Creator of the universe. Yes, you can communicate from the resources of your mind. Yes, you can pray with sighs and groans that are too deep to utter. However, verbal or written words help communicate a clear message.

Referencing: “I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes,” Daniel 9:3.

Applying: Put your heart to understanding, humble yourself before your God and your words will be heard.