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Day 279 Daniel 9:20 Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God, 21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I saw in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you the skill to understand. 23 “At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore, consider the matter, and understand the vision. 24 “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most-Holy. 25 “Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. The street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. 26 “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it will be with a flood, and till the end of the war, desolations are determined. 27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week, He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations will be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined is poured out on the desolate.” Do you pray with expectation? Many people pray and then leave their prayers at the altar and go away with no thought about the answer. Daniel prayed with expectation. When he confessed his sin and Israel’s sin, he expected God to keep His promise and return Israel to their homeland. He also had questions about the vision God gave him. He barely finished praying when God sent Gabriel to give him the answer to the vision. As Christians, you need to pray with expectation. Don’t leave your prayer on the altar and go your way, forgetting about what you prayed for, or hoping you’ll find a way to resolve your problems because you don’t believe the prayer you prayed. Many prayers go unanswered because either people don’t believe God will answer them, they don’t have faith to believe. They even wonder why they pray since most of their prayers don’t get answers. Or they don’t wait because they’re afraid of the answer they’ll receive. Many Christians pray hoping God will give them the desires of their heart. God doesn’t answer the desires of your heart unless your desires are His desires for you. He won’t give you the desires of your heart when you lust after the things of this world. He won’t give you your request when your request brings harm and shame. However, when you want to know how to follow Him more; when you want to live your life according to God’s plan, He will always answer because it gives glory to God. Daniel confessed his sin and Israel’s sins after he received a vision about what would happen in the near future. Gabriel told him when the Messiah would die for the sins of the world. Scholars have calculated Gabriel’s weeks and found it was to the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. God wants you to know the details of the plans He gives you. When you pray, expect an answer and wait for it. You might be surprised at what God will reveal to you. Let’s pray: Father, give me a heart that honors You in everything I say and do. Let my desires be Your desires for my life. Show me what You want me to know, and help me wait on You for the answers to my prayers. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 20 March 2022 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay.