My Heart's Posture

Daniel 9:23
At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.

Daniel 10:10-12
10 And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
11 And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.
12 Then he said to me, "Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.

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An angel appears to Daniel after he has spent time fasting and praying. He perceives that he is living in a time when the words of the prophet Jeremiah are being fulfilled: that after 70 years, the Lord will end Israel's time in slavery.

What he does after realizing this is: prayer. He doesn't rejoice or speak to God in a proud way. He asks for mercy upon himself and God's people. He repents. He intercedes for the people. He stands in the gap and prays on behalf of all the people.

Because of this heart of his, an angel, Gabriel, comes to him to assure him that his humble prayers, his pleas for mercy, were heard by God and Gabriel is the proof that the Lord answers the prayers of his people. And it wasn't after Daniel had finished his prayer that the angel was sent, it was "at the beginning of (his) pleas for mercy."

Because of God's holiness, our mortal and sinful condition forces us to be fearful and trembling in his mighty presence. But God and his angels always tell those who are humble, "fear not." Again, Gabriel assures Daniel that the very first day that he set his heart to understand the things of God and humbled himself before the power of God, his words were heard. And they were more than heard, an angel was sent to him to deliver messages.

It's encouraging to me because it shows that humble prayers are answered by the Lord. Indeed, the Lord opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6 <from Proverbs 3:34>). When I pray, I need to be conscious of the posture of my heart. Is it humbled? Or lifted up? How I approach the Lord's throne room to speak to him?

Father, forgive me for so many times I pray without humility. I want my prayers to be acceptable in your sight. I want to set a good example for others in prayer. May I be ever more conscious of the posture of my heart as I seek you and speak with you, in Jesus' name.

Amen.