Why Should God Answer When We Pray?
Scripture Reading: Daniel 9:8
For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.
Daniel was a man of prayer. When the law was passed that banned anyone from praying to any god other than the king, Daniel opened the windows of his house, knelt, and prayed. He did this every day. It was his habit. It is not surprising therefore that we would find that Daniel’s response to reading the prophecies concerning the end of the Babylonian exile was that he was praying.
It wasn’t the fact of his praying that was unusual, but the intensity of his praying. He was making a big ask. He was asking God to fulfill His promise of a return from exile. There was no reason for Daniel to believe this would happen other than the promise of God. No political movement was afoot. Daniel wasn’t basing his idea that this was possible upon anything other than what Jeremiah had prophesied. If it were to happen, it would have to be done by the hand of God.
So, Daniel prayed.
And what made Daniel think that God would listen and answer his prayer?
Daniel was a good man, maybe one of the best men who ever lived. His integrity, faith, godliness, and courage are commendable and attributes any man would be blessed to hold. Still, like all men, Daniel was a sinner. He was imperfect. He was a part of fallen humanity, deserving of death and judgment. Therefore, Daniel wasn’t approaching God based on his goodness. He wasn’t coming before the Lord in prayer and seeking something because he felt he had earned it.
Daniel was coming to God in humble, repentant faith. He believed that God would answer because of who God is, not because of who he was. He was asking for something big because God is good, not because he was good.
Do you feel undeserving of good things from the Lord? You are right to feel that, but God doesn’t give good gifts to good children. God gives because God is good, and his mercy is great. So, ask because of who God is, and not because of who you are.