“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” Daniel 6:10 (NIV)
“And Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea’, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.’” Mark 11: 22-24 (ESV)
Only God can move mountains, but we have the privilege of moving the heart of God through prayer.
God is always good and He desires to bless us beyond our imagination. When we pray fervently into His goodness, God is delighted to graciously give us more. God is always working out His best for us, even moving mountains we may not see.
Daniel’s prayers moved mountains. He was mighty and faithful in prayer throughout his life. Understanding the righteous and unchanging character of God, Daniel trusted His word and His promises. His confidence rested not in his prayers, but in the One who answers prayer. Daniel demonstrated his humble posture in prayer on his knees with reverent submission to the Most High God. Surrendering to God, he was completely open to hear what God was saying to him. Daniel prevailed in prayer by depending on God for wisdom and strength, persevering until the answers came and trusting God with the results.
To remain faithful in prayer like Daniel without giving up, it becomes necessary for us to spend time separated from the world’s distractions. By committing to being consistent in setting apart daily time alone with the Lord, we’re showing Him that our heart is open to His. Then when we pray, hope fills us with the assurance of the Lord’s presence. We may enjoy His fellowship in the early morning hours, in the evening, or maybe even during the night watches when He reminds us to seek Him and trust His promises. Jeremiah 33:3 is a powerful Scripture at 3:33 a.m.!
Being faithful in prayer is a sacrifice rooted in Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. Just as He gave up everything when He prayed in the garden, “Your will be done,” so we must also give ourselves up to God. When we come to a place of surrender, so grateful for God’s grace to us, we begin to discover what He wants and are given the strength to prevail. As we persist in prayer in agreement with His will and wait patiently, we learn more deeply about God’s grace. Perhaps we are praying for a loved one to surrender to Jesus, so we watch and wait expectantly for God to move this mountain through prayer.
Whether an answer is delayed for 21 days (Daniel 10:13) or for 32 years, the answer that comes may be more than we could have asked for or imagined. So in the waiting, keep praying confidently that God hears. Keep watching expectantly for His good plans to unfold. Keep trusting in His power to move mountains. His timing is always perfect in our lives.
Our God Hears,
Barb Wibling
