Day 4: Receiving the Message

Day 21: e Family Name ....................................................47 Day 22: e Active Word .....................................................49 Day 23: When Angels Bring the Answer .............................52 Day 24: Insight and Understanding .....................................55 Day 25: Honored by God .....................................................57 Day 26: Understanding God’s Timing .................................59 Day 27: e Messiah Comes! ...............................................62 Day 28: For is Purpose .....................................................64 Day 29: e Beginning of the End .......................................66 Day 30: e End...................................................................68 Day 31: Five Lessons from the Prayer of Daniel ..................70

Foreword

Prepare Your Heart for the Next irty-One Days

When we take a close look at Daniel’s prayer, we see he teaches us about praying and fasting and how important it is to engage in both. He did not totally abstain from eating when he was under King Nebuchadnezzar’s rule. He simply passed on the rich banquet cuisine which was normally served at the king’s table, and he chose instead all manner of grains, vegetables, and water. Even when we pray and fast, it still comes down to a deep and personal place where the focus is not on food or personal comfort. We must be careful not to fall into the trap of being taken up with what is the right thing to eat, when to eat, and how much. Rather, it is a special time to make food secondary to the desire to be in the presence of the Savior.

Daniel chose to be an intercessor for his people when the ful llment of Jeremiah’s prophecy regarding Israel’s exile to Babylon took place under King Nebuchadnezzar. He does not excuse the people’s behavior or exclude himself from the results of disobedience. He did not portray hopelessness, although his prayer brought no obvious change in Israel’s circumstances. Instead, he remains faithful in prayer and constant in worship. ere are several prevalent themes throughout Daniel’s prayer.

First, even in the midst of judgment, the book of Daniel resonates with good news of God’s sovereignty, mercy, forgiveness, faithfulness, and righteousness.