May 2022
Nougat 22
There are times when it seems praying doesn’t work. Even after we’ve had a season of positively answered prayer. What then do we do??? Here’s today’s Holy Nougat
“So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. … while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.” Daniel 9:3, 21 NIV
“At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.” Daniel 10:2-3, 12 NIV
I took the liberty of sharing TWO extended nougats as a means of under-scoring that prayer and fasting is NOT a one-size-fits-all-situations. It isn’t. Even Daniel, the renowned prophet-intercessor, experienced delays with his prayers being answered. Hmmm hmm, one could say that Daniel’s experience reminds us that there are times when what sounds like God’s silence is actually ‘just wait’, and not ‘no’.
By virtue thereof, we note that our season of fasting and prayer should also be about discernment. Let’s revisit the nougats for more insights.
Prayer A: Daniel 9
In this context, Daniel is interceding for his people. He was worried about the ful-filment of Jeremiah’s prophecy concerning the scheduled 70-year desolation of Jerusalem. In his distress for his people, we find that Daniel … “turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.” The ensuing verses (not included in the nougat) provide a blueprint for national repentance and intercession by an individual or small group.
It is worth noting that Daniel’s prayer doesn’t say ‘those people sinned’. Rather, Daniel assumed guilt and responsibility for the actions of all and in that wise, pleaded for divine mercy. Additionally, we note that he did NOT deny the validity of Jeremiah’s prophecy; but begged and pleaded in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes, that God would be merciful.
This suggests to me that we are given the liberty/authority to pray mercy in cases of divine judgement. This is absolutely not about refuting someone’s prophetic anointing. It is the recognition that there are times when a prophetic word offers scope for an alternative outcome when we are open to transforming our lives.
The second part of the extended Daniel 9 nougat confirms this. For; Daniel reports; “while I was still in prayer, Gabriel … came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.” Daniel got a response almost immediately; that is, before he was done praying! That might remind us of Isaiah 65:24, where God assured us through the prophet ‘before’ we call; God will answer…
Prayer B: Daniel 10
Yet, the very next chapter in Daniel has Daniel in intense prayer once again; and the very response was delayed for twenty-one days. Had Daniel changed? Was God displeased with him? Did Daniel max out his interceding quota, hence he had to wait for a new cycle? All of the above?
More … with tomorrow’s nougat.
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May all we seek be found in Christ