Hello my beloved friends!
I get a chance to talk with you today!
I've missed being here so very much. The Lord shows me so many good things and says so much to me that I could spend hours here every day. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.
Rather than trying to back up and give you highlights, I think I'll just pick up with the most recent things as I have prayed asking the Lord what He desires here.
I was very impressed with Daniel's prayer in chapter 9 of Daniel. Daniel himself impresses me! Kings consulted him. Imagine what a relationship with God, to hear Him and be able to discern dreams and visions in a time like he lived, a time of great upheaval for his people, and changes in governments and kingdoms of the world. Daniel was given insight by the spirit of God, and he gave Him all the glory.
In chapter 9 he prays, acknowledging the sin of his people. There are some key points and principals that stood out to me as I looked at it.
1. Praise and honor.
V. 4 -
"O Lord, the great and awesome God"
Jesus taught us this principal in prayer - "Our Father in heaven, holy is Your name".
2. Acknowledgment of God's character.
V. 4 -
"who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments"
Remember the goodness of the Lord, not forgetting our part.
3. Confession of sin.
5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
They heard but they did not listen. We are not only to be hearers of the Word, but doers, or it does not profit us.
Jesus taught this too.
Matthew 7:24 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine
and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."
V. 7 -
"To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame"
9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
Notice here what rebellion is? Not obeying the voice of the Lord by walking in His Word.
4. Your Word is true.
11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. 12He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the LORD our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. 14 Therefore the LORD has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice.
Daniel knew Deuteronomy 28 where the Lord said all these curses would come on them if they did not listen to His voice and obey Him.
5. He honestly assesses the state they are in.
15And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 16"O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us.
We've sinned, and as a result have become an object of ridicule.
The Lord brought us out of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. He did it. We, out of love and gratitude will serve him and cleave to Him all our days, or we too could become an object of ridicule.
6. Makes the petition.
17Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.
"We do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy." Amen.
It's because of His abundant compassion! It's not our righteousness which is like filthy rags in comparison. It's His grace and mercy!
The Lord hears! The Lord forgives! The Lord will not delay when He hears our cry, for we are called by His name. We have His name!
Ever think about having His name? Ladies, did you take the name of your husband when you married him? Do you now have his name? Don't you know you are espoused to the Holy One? to Christ our Savior?
Yes, we have His name! And so we conduct ourselves accordingly, in honor and integrity, walking as children of the light. And guess what? We will receive all the blessing of Deuteronomy 28.
The Blessing is ours because Jesus was made a curse for us. Praise Jesus!
We give thanks to You, Jesus!
Love you guys!
See ya' later.