DANIEL – A MAN OF PRAYER
Daniel 9:19

Introduction: When it comes to prayer, what better example, besides the Lord Jesus Christ, do we have in God’s Word than Daniel. When we look at Daniel and his life, we can understand why Daniel was a man of prayer.

I. DANIEL WAS A CAPTIVE IN BABYLON. (DANIEL 1:4,6, 17-21)
A. He was well favored.
B. He was skilful in all wisdom.
C. He was cunning in knowledge.
D. He had an understanding of science.
E. He had the ability to stand before the king.
F. He had to learn the language
G. Besides the things of the world, He still kept himself in the things of God. (Daniel 1:8)

II. DANIEL WAS A VERY BUSY MAN, YET HE HAD TIME FOR PRAYER
(AT LEAST THREE TIMES A DAY) (DANIEL 6:10)
A. He stood before the wicked kings of Babylon.
1. Nebuchadnezzar threatened to kill all the wise man without even consulting with
Daniel. (Daniel 2:1-47)
a. Daniel records for us the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s
faithfulness to the Lord, and their refusal to worship other gods. (Daniel 3:1-30)
b. Daniel is the last to be called upon to interpret the dream concerning
Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. Nebuchadnezzar finds out God is no respecter of
persons. (Daniel 4:1-37) (esp. verses 30-37)
2. Belshazzar was the son of Nebuchadnezzar.
a. He desecrated the vessels taken from God’s house.
b. He was drunk and was living a riotous life. God’s judgment was upon him.
c. Daniel stood before him, and told him that night he would die.
(How would you like that job?) (Daniel 5:1-30)
3. Darius – the Median
a. Darius promoted Daniel to first president.
b. Darius was duped into signing the decree of “Pride in Himself”. (Daniel 6:7-9)
c. Darius spent a sleepless night because of the decree. (Daniel 6:14-19)
d. God delivered righteous Daniel. The perpetrators are destroyed. (Daniel 6:20-24)
B. God gave Daniel a “look ahead”. He records the prophecy concerning Israel and the end of days. (Daniel 7 thru 12)

NOW LET’S LOOK AT DANIEL’S PRAYER FOUND IN DANIEL 9:19

I. “O LORD HEAR”
A. We have to do the asking! How can God hear, if we don’t talk to Him?
B. God knows all things and He knows our needs, but He wants to hear from His children. We receive not because we ask not. (James 4:2)
1. He wants to save us. (Luke 19:10)
2. He wants to sustain us. (Philippians 1:6)
3. He wants to heal our diseases. (Matthew 4:23-24; Luke 4:40)
I) He wants to provide our needs and desires. (Psalm 37:4; Philippians 4:19)

II. “O LORD FORGIVE”
A. The first prayer God wants us to hear and answer is the prayer that leads to salvation.
1. I am a sinner. (I John 4:10) (Romans 3:10, 12)
2. I need the Savior. (I John 4:9-14)
3. I confess my sin. (I John 4:15)
4. I receive Christ as my Savior. (Romans 10:9-10)
5. I thank you Lord! (Colossians 1:12-14; 2:7,17; 4:2)
6. I need forgiveness of sin committed after salvation. (I John 1:9)

III. “O LORD HEARKEN AND DO”
A. We have the right of petition before our Lord. (I John 5:14, 15)
1. We can come boldly to the throne. (Hebrews 4:16)
2. We receive of Him because we keep His commandments and do those things
which are pleasing in His sight. (I John 3:22)
3. When we ask believing, He will “HEARKEN and DO”!

Conclusion: I pray that by looking at the pattern of Daniel’s prayer, it will encourage us to
spend more time in prayer. Then we will see how God can bless this closeness
with Him!

God blessed and kept Daniel and He will bless and keep us too!