I continued my reading this afternoon in the book of Daniel. (It’s a holiday at work so I had the chance to do so.) This is one of the many verses in chapter 9 that struck me:

“O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.” Daniel 9:18

I thought about the same thing a couple of days ago. I’ve read and heard this many times before but it seems like I encountered this just today. I just had a profound understanding of the truth that Daniel said about God: when HE answers our prayers, it’s not because we are good but because He is good. The only thing we deserve is death but because of God’s grace and mercy, we are able to come to Him and make our requests known.

Lately, the song “Because of Who You Are” (by Brian Kelly Mcknight & Michael Brandon Barnes) has a different impact on me. I cannot boast about anything to God. I cannot ask Him to do things for me because I am good and deserving because I’m not. I can’t fathom how God loves me despite all of my shortcomings. His goodness just leaves me grateful. God is good even in the midst of our anxieties.

Daniel’s prayer also shows how Daniel always wanted to glorify God. He always asked God to answer their pleas more for the glory of God than for the benefit of the people.

“Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate.” v. 17

“O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.” v. 18

“O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.” v. 19

“Oh, that we might learn how to pray so that God should be the subject as well as the object of our supplications! O God, thy Church needs thee above everything else! A poor, little, sick, neglected child needs fifty things; but you can put all those needs into one if you say that the child needs its mother. So, the Church, of God needs a thousand things, but you can put them all into one if you say, ‘The Church of God needs her God.’ ” (Spurgeon, enduringword.com)

Father God, I’m sorry if oftentimes, the subject and object of my prayers are focused on myself, other people, and things, and not so much about You. Thank You for reminding me, through these verses, that my prayers should be focused on You, on giving You glory because You deserve it.