SEARCHLIGHT
When have you tried to make a deal with God?
SCRIPTURE
Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Daniel 9:18 NIV
SPOTLIGHT
I was speaking with a friend on the telephone. He was very concerned about his health because he had contracted COVID. For 3 years he had avoided the sickness. Now he did not know what lay ahead of him. How severe would it be? How long would it last? My friend was a Godly man who had a strong personal relationship with Jesus and had faithfully served in church ministry for many years. He quickly said, “Yes!” when I asked if I could pray for him. “Heavenly Father,” I prayed, “I come to you on behalf of my friend, David. You know his physical health is being challenged by COVID. I ask that You heal him. Cause him to experience minimal effects. Lord God, You know David loves You and has faithfully served You in ministry. But Lord, I am not asking for You to heal and protect him because of his righteousness but I am asking because of Your great mercy. And I pray this in Your Son’s name, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, AMEN!”
Daniel taught me the prayer I prayed over my friend. It is the heart of today’s devotional focus. At the beginning of chapter 9, Daniel had confessed the sin of his people. He had admitted that they had done every imaginable sin possible. Shame and guilt marked their lives. Many Israelites had been sent into captivity. Daniel was serving in faraway Babylon. Jeremiah had prophesied this would last for 70 years. Now Jerusalem lay in ruins. And Daniel declared that the only thing they could rely on in this desperate state was the compassion of God. [Daniel 9:9] The prophet knew that the Israelites deserved nothing from God. They had ignored and disobeyed their Heavenly Father who wanted to bless them.
Do not forget. Daniel was a very Godly man. He prayed throughout the day because he had a close relationship with God. In addition, he sought to live a holy life that would direct people to want to know God. [Daniel 1:8] To top off his record, please remember he was a faithful follower of God. He chose the lion’s den over the palace. [Daniel 6] Willingly and without any hesitation, he faced persecution from his fellow employees.
As he prayed, Daniel was fully convinced that what he was asking from God would not be given because of his years of good deeds and faithfulness to God. He deserved nothing from God. God had been good in warning the Israelites of disaster and destruction if they did not repent and turn back to serving God. Clearly Daniel pleads with God for deliverance on the sole basis of God’s great mercy. And that is how you should pray!
Do not ask God to do miraculous things based on your history of righteousness. Your good deeds and your faithfulness are not bartering chips with God. You cannot buy God’s favor. Neither can you coax God into blessing you because you promise to serve Him. Forget about bargaining with God. He needs nothing from you. Never let your prayerful petition to God become a negotiating moment. God owes you nothing. Always remember, whatever God does for you is not because you deserve it but only because of God’s mercy.
Appeal to God’s merciful compassion and loving-kindness when petitioning Him. Make your plea based on God’s mercy rather than you believing you deserve something. God’s mercy is the goodness He shows you in the midst of your misery or distress. The mercy of God led God to pardon you of your sin even though it cost Him his Son. [John 3:16]
DO NOT BARGAIN WITH GOD! You cannot pray, “Let’s make a deal, God?” Instead, you can pray, “I make my plea to You, God, not because I deserve your help, but because You are the One and only merciful God. You are my last and only hope!”
SOMETHING TO DO
The Bible is clear about God being merciful. Check out Psalm 37:26; 86:5; 103:8,17; Ephesians 2:4; James 5:11; Exodus 20:2 to be read with Luke 1:50 and Isaiah 55:7 to be read with Luke 1:72.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, You are Almighty God. There is no reason why You should listen to my prayer. I cannot earn that privilege. However, I make my plea to You, God, not because I deserve your help, but because You are the One and only merciful God. You are my last and only hope! I need You to ……………Be merciful to me loving God. AMEN