Daniel 9:21 While I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.
Daniel is a great example for us to follow as far as a strong prayer life. Daniel prayed three times a day although a law passed that anyone praying to any deity except the King of Babylon would end up in the lion's den (Daniel 6:10). When Daniel learned that the decree was published, he went home to his upstairs room, where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. However, Daniel still prayed three times a day, as usual, this did not deter him, and it got him thrown in the lion's den. God was there with him through the night and protected him from the hungry lions. In our text today, Daniel was reading Jeremiah's prophecy that the Israelites' exile would last only 70 years. He was praying that God would not delay the end of their captivity. While he was praying, God sent the Angel Gabriel with the answer to Daniel's prayer (Daniel 9:21).
In other words, God answered his prayer ever before he had finished the prayer. In another part of Daniel's Book, we read where God delayed the answer for three weeks (Daniel 10:12-13). We can learn valuable lessons from Daniel about how and when God answers prayer. The answer comes quickly and is crystal clear, and other times it seems like God does not hear us, and we do not get an answer. There are other times that God might send an answer, and we do not hear it because of how far we have drifted from God.
A young man had lost his job and went to an old preacher to complain that God did not hear his prayers. The old preacher spoke something to the young man that was so soft that could not hear it. The young man moved a little closer to the aged pastor but still could not distinguish what he was saying. He was finally leaning on the preacher's chair with his head almost touching the pastor's head when he heard the old preacher say ever so softly, "sometimes God whispers so that we have to get closer to Him to hear the answer." The next time there is a feeling in your life that God is not answering your prayers, make sure you are close enough to Him to hear the answer when He whispers it to you. So many times, prayer is a last resort; we try everything we know, and when our efforts do not solve the dilemma we face, we go to God in prayer.
Let us follow the example of Daniel and regularly pray every day of our lives. Disown the ways of the world and turn your eyes on Jesus and as the old hymn says' the things of this world will grow strangely dim," and then we will be close enough to God to hear everything He has to tell us.
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