Beyond the Weekend: Powerful Prayers
Powerful Prayers A 7-Week Series | May 10–June 21
What does it really mean to pray?
Prayer is one of those things most people think about but aren't sure they're doing right. Is God actually listening? Does it matter what you say? Does prayer even work?
This series digs into some of the most powerful prayers in the Bible. From the Lord's Prayer to Daniel's cry in a crisis, we'll see what happens when ordinary people bring their real lives to God.
Whether you've prayed your whole life or you're not even sure God is real, this series is for you.
Seeing Clearly
Read: Daniel 9:4-11
Listen: Daniel 9
The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him. Daniel 9:9
Daniel’s response to God’s Word through prayer corrects his vision. He sees two distinct realities: God’s holiness and Israel’s rebellion. Even in his people’s painful experience of exile, he recognizes God is keeping his covenant and inviting Israel to turn toward his love. He concedes to the truth that God is justified in his judgment for their rebellious hearts. He asks God to remember his promises and forgive his people of their sins. This prayer is an act of worship and confession that rightly orients his heart around God.
As we clearly see who God is and who we are, we respond with worship and confession. Like Israel, it is far too easy for us to fall into sin when we stop seeing God clearly. We can easily justify or dismiss our own rebellious hearts. Yet, when we return to him in prayer and see his goodness and experience his presence, we cannot help but worship him. Our worship resets our vision. No clearer is this reality felt than when we are reminded of the death and resurrection of Jesus. In Jesus, we see both God’s love on display and the great cost of our sin. Only through his selfless act of love are we restored to God.
PRAYER DAY #38: Pray Daniel’s words to worship and confess today: “God, you are a covenant-keeping God. I have sinned and done wrong. Please help me see you and my sin rightly, and restore me to you.”
Learn more about Daniel and his prayer on this week’s episode of the Beyond the Weekend Podcast. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts or watch on YouTube.
