Daniel Fasting

You are greatly loved!

Daniel 9:3 ‘And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes..’

Friend, the reason for our mediocre lives, broken homes and debt-drenched lives is because we read more of ‘how to become rich and how to have stress-free life’ rather than the Word of God! We are not boldly able to look straight at the face of kings and say, ‘look, this is what God is telling you’ because we chat more on face book rather than with God like Daniel! Are you listening? If there is a niggle here, let me tell you, because we have neglected personal relationship with God, we run seeking for prophesies (which is available in heaps now a days) thrilling experiences and something new rather than quietly fast and pray for ‘DIRECT’ Word from God!

Young people! Youth Leaders! Listen! When would you abandon the world, work and spend time with God in fasting and prayer, so that you could get directions from ABOVE for your life rather than running around? How about going on plain tea and bread for a few days and praying? Your ministry, work and life would have spectacular changes when you do that! I challenge you! We talk big about the Big God, alright; but when would we do something big for Him, like crucifying our flesh, desires and appetite and sit at His feet? Tell me. I thank God as my passion for Him has not been buried even after several years; the pain, suffering, tribulations, sickness, betrayal, lampooning and humiliation has not dented my craze and love for Him one bit. All the above said persecutions were meant to shape and mold me as His Servant and be able to speak to the rural and the urban crowd around the globe and prepare a generation for His Second Coming and also be able “to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest He come and strike the earth with a curse." (Malachi 4:6)

Daniel was a great politician, prime-minister of state to one of the greatest monarchs upon earth, a great prophet, one who was able to interpret dreams and visions; yet he was a diligent student in the scripture and found time to refer to the ‘book of Jeremiah’ and know of the future of the people of God, he understood that the 70 years of exile was about to expire but the lives of the children of God were atrocious, hence fearing the wrath of God over them again, Daniel determines his heart to fast and pray. This is the background of chapter nine from the book of Daniel. We see in the previous chapters Daniel being actively involved in his work and getting plum positions in the palace, but now in this chapter, we see him as a man closely speaking to God, reading His Word and also being a ‘spokesperson’ for God. Friend, never give an excuse that your work hinders your walk with God. If you’re passionate about God, you would do all it takes to cut the ‘unwanted stuff’ and commune with Him. Are you hearing me? If you put browsing facebook before your prayer, I guarantee, facebook would rob all the time, leaving you with just enough time to yawn and sleep. Beware!

I want to split the prayer of Daniel into different headings and expound it to you so that you understand it clearly and your fasting and prayer would be efficacious and successful. Amen.

a) CONFESSION:I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession said Daniel! (verse 9:4)

Friend, I love this! Daniel did not plead, cry and confess about only his own personal sins, but he was confessing the sins of the nation. Man, we need more Daniels today!

“………..fast not unto men, but unto they Father…” (Mathew 6:18)

We have a whole gamut of people who point fingers, but very few would cry and pray for the sinners. Recently, the people of America were gripped with fear because of the hurricane Sandy and America emerged out of this with less damage. I found harsh words and curses against the people of America on Face book, ‘they deserve to be punished’ etc., my question is this, in what way are we Indians any better? Tell me. If you travel the villages and the interior pockets of India and North India you would know what it is to live without God and churches. Internet hubs are spread widely even in villages which is a big opening point for satan, which enables the villagers to watch ‘evil’ for as less as five rupees for half hour. You can see group of young boys/adults/old people huddled in the corner and watching ‘evil’ that brings death in their life. Men and women together consume arrack and toddy in villages. In what way is India any less sinful nation? Friend, the growth and sizes of idols in India is gigantic, and the next tsunami is not very far away to hit India. Beware! Be it America, India or for our own homes and lives, we got to confess the sins and pray. Proverbs 28:13 says, “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”