9/17/2025 Daily Devotion: A Prayer For His People

Daniel 9:20-23 NASB - Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering. He gave me instruction and talked with me and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding. At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.”

Chapter 9 of Daniel is Daniel’s prayer for his people … a prayer for Daniel’s people & a prayer for God’s People. May this be our prayer for our people & our prayer for God’s People today!

A prayer seeking God.

• “Then I turned my face to the Lord God” … Daniel SOUGHT GOD through his prayer.

• Daniel did not enter into prayer focused on his own wishes, desires, or requests … Daniel did not enter into prayer focused on the health, wealth, & success of his people … Daniel entered into prayer SEEKING GOD Himself.

• May every prayer of ours start from a desire to discover our Heavenly Father, Whose Name is HOLY & HALLOWED … may we SEEK HIM through our prayers.

A prayer confessing sin.

• Daniel confesses his OWN SIN and Daniel confesses the sin of his people. … how often do we approach God with the sins of our people from a position of pious superiority?

• Daniel acknowledges God’s PROMISE to work all things together for the good of those who LOVE & OBEY Him … and that they had rebelled against Him.

• Daniel does not remove himself from the SHAME that his people deserved for this rebellion against God.

• May our prayers for our own people be humble prayers of confession & solidarity.

A prayer pleading for God’s Mercy.

• Daniel pleads for God’s Mercy and Forgiveness … which are His to give!

• God’s Judgement is righteous and deserved! … true Justice would bring God’s Wrath upon them … they had earned Wrath, they deserved Judgement, they were not owed Mercy …

• BUT GOD still offers His Mercy & His Forgiveness to undeserving people! HALLELUJAH!

How did God respond to Daniel’s prayer? … God brought Daniel INSIGHT & UNDERSTANDING.

• Understanding of God’s Love

• Understanding of God’s Word

• Understanding of God’s Purpose

When we passionately seek God in prayer for our people, for His People … His response is the same!

• We are greatly loved by Him!

• God’s Word in Scripture & the Holy Spirit inside us reveals His Will … we should consider it!

• God’s Purpose & Vision for us individually and as a people is that we would KNOW HIM!

Pray for our people. Pray for God’s People. SEEK HIM.