I think it’s a largely female trait, with a few notable exceptions, to talk at the same time and often over the ends of each other’s sentences. In our family, when we have not seen each other for some time or when celebrating a milestone- just all the time really- the volume and speed of our words denote our feelings. Akin to the rise and fall in the musical score of a symphony, an opera, or an intensely suspenseful movie, we relate with the emotions of those we love in a very telling way. Be it joy or frustration, sadness or celebration, it is intensified in company.
Prayer was like this for Daniel. He learned at an early age that agreeing with God opened the lines of communication, even before the arrival of the Holy Spirit. In chapter 9 of the Old Testament book with his name, after the stories we learned as children in Sunday school end, God allows Daniel a series of visions of the time of the end, which are further explained to him by angelic messengers. On this occasion, he is reading the word of the Lord as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet when he recognizes a divine timetable, one whose time is coming near. Rather than ranting about his continuing captivity or asking God why He does not intervene, Daniel begins to pray one of the most powerful intercessory prayers recorded in scripture.
“I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:
“O Lord, you are a great and awesome God!
You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands.
But we have sinned and done wrong.
We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations.”
Daniel 9:4-5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/dan.9.4-5.NLT
Daniel continues through verse nineteen acknowledging specific sins, failure to listen and to obey the commands of the Lord-both in his part and for the nation of Israel and Judah- and acknowledging God as right in His judgements and faithful in His provision. Many of his words are otherwise recorded in scripture as attributes of the one true God. Daniel agrees with God’s word on every count. Then Daniel continues, humble before the Lord in spite of the fact that he has sought the Lord and probably been more faithful to God than anyone in captivity in Babylon.
“I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the Lord my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain.
As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice.
He explained to me, “Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding.
The moment you began praying, a command was given.
And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God.
Listen carefully so that you can understand the meaning of your vision.”
Daniel 9:20-23 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/dan.9.20-23.NLT
Daniel is proof that God hears and answers the prayers of those who acknowledge Him as Lord and come humbly yet boldly to Him. We are never to demand anything of Him, but by spending time with Him through prayer and reading His Word, the Bible, like Daniel, we simply ask Him to do what He plans to do. And if we recognize ourselves in His word, for good or bad, we thank Him and work to align our hearts and minds with His.
Gabriel says that Daniel’s prayer was answered the moment he began to pray. Another prayer recorded in scripture that was answered before the words were spoken revealed a beautiful beginning. Abraham’s son, Isaac, son of the promise was nearing forty and was unwed. Abraham sent his trusted servant to his father’s people on a matchmaking mission, really asking the impossible. Find a wife for my son. The servant betrays his own faith in the God of Abraham, for though he prays to the God of my master, Abraham, he truly believes God will make a way. He leave’s immediately, engagement gifts in tow, and arriving at the well outside the city, he asks God for a very specific sign.
“Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder.” (Genesis 24:15) The bride to be didn’t just appear. She was the first to arrive, she was very beautiful, and she acted in exactly the way the servant hoped. His first response? “The servant worshiped the Lord.
“Praise the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham,” he said. “The Lord has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master’s relatives.””
Genesis 24:26-27 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gen.24.26-27.NLT
The servant of Abraham prayed to God for success and before he finished speaking to God in his heart, Rebekah appeared. I believe God informs our prayers in that the sign was God’s all along, put into the servant’s mind in order that he might be able to recognize the provision God had already made for Isaac. We may not get our answers as quickly as Rebekah came to the well, while we are still praying, but since God acts outside of time, who’s to say that the answer isn’t put into place before my words are even spoken. Who’s to say that God isn’t preparing my heart to receive what He has for me by giving me words to pray that I don’t even realize I should be praying?
We get so tripped up on wording sometimes as we read the Bible. Words that on the surface make it appear that God is controlling our choices, (ie revoking the free will He designed and bestowed when He created us in His image) when in fact, He is revealing what He alone already sees and knows.
Judas the betrayer was known to God from the beginning. Christ Jesus was the Lamb slain from the creation. Jesus still chose Judas to follow Him. Judas saw the miracles, heard the divine teachings, witnessed Jesus forgive sin. Jesus still washed Judas’s feet. Even when Judas betrayed Him with a kiss, Jesus did not berate him or curse him. He simply gave him permission to do what he had come to do. He allowed Judas to maintain His free will to the end. It was entirely Jesus’s decision to surrender. He told his followers to put their weapons away, saying,
“Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?
But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”
Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day.
But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.”
At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.”
Matthew 26:53-56 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.26.53-56.NLT
Not the disciples finest hour, yet many would condemn God for His foreknowledge and for doing nothing to change what we perceive as a poor choice or negative outcome while in the same breath championing personal freedom. God’s omniscience does not make Him evil. He is by nature good, and His good heart breaks every time one of His children follow a self-destructive path when the Way of life is before us.
Jesus prayed “not my will but Yours be done” to the Father when all of His humanity wanted a way, any way, out of His current situation. The cross was part of the Jerusalem landscape. It was intended to be a constant reminder to all who entered the city that Rome was law and there were severe consequences for any trespass. And trespass we do.
From the cross, “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”” (Luke 23:34)
“Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.”
Matthew 6:8-13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.9.NLT
For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
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