Prayer and Supplication

Faith in Action

A Living Faith in God

A Prayer for an Obedient Faith

Daniel 9:1-4 The Message
9 1-4 “Darius, son of Ahasuerus, born a Mede, became king over the land of Babylon. In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, was meditating on the Scriptures that gave, according to the Word of God to the prophet Jeremiah, the number of years that Jerusalem had to lie in ruins, namely, seventy. I turned to the Master God, asking for an answer—praying earnestly, fasting from meals, wearing rough penitential burlap, and kneeling in the ashes. I poured out my heart, baring my soul to God, my God:

For Reflection

Is prayer only a means to ask for a special favor?  Is that the prayer God wants to hear? Is taking on the form of prayer all that important?  How often have you knelt before God? Isn't it a common practice to stand in prayer? How much of your prayer life is conducted in fasting and self-denial? Does God need our praise, our thanks, our promise of obedience?
I rather think not. Our prayers are not for God's sake.  Our prayers are for our sake. Praying keeps us in tune with God.  Prayer is the time that we look deeply into our souls to seek God who resides there.  Our prayers are submission to the call of God.  Prayer recognizes the sacred core of our humanity, our souls. Prayer is the offering of our lives to the Way of Jesus Christ. In these last days, to pray is to be an agent of the Creation a co-conspirator of God.

Pray

Offer your life and love in service to others. Share your friendship. Face life directly, knowing that you have little control over circumstance. Face life courageously to support a society that fosters love and equitable opportunity to thrive. Let that be your prayer that honors God.

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