Once Daniel was taken captive in Babylon, he could have chosen to be bitter against God or compromise with his new culture. But instead, he turned to God and sought to change his people’s situation through fervent prayer. What kind of prayer—offered by one person—could move Heaven and change nations? That kind of prayer requires *preparation.*
Daniel didn't pray out of obligation; he was *prompted* to pray, based on a promise of God in Scripture. He basically prayed God's promise back to him. As Eugene Peterson says, he “reversed the thunder,” and held God to his Word.
In order to plead with God the way Daniel did, we need to feel connected to him. If you feel disconnected, work on developing confidence in God's character, and restore your relationship with him by confessing your sins with contrition.
When you pray, you can’t be holding on to some other options that you are relying on just in case God doesn’t come through for you. You can’t have a Plan A, and if that doesn’t work a Plan B, and then only tack on prayer as a last resort. God wants you to go to him first and prevail upon him in f...
