Daniel 9:1-3 (NIV) In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom— in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

Daniel was a man of prayer who was known to pray three times a day. Once, even when it could have cost him his life for praying to God against the king’s decree, it didn’t stop him from praying. In the story above, Daniel had had seen a vision and had read from the writings of Jeremiah about the length of time that the devastation of Jerusalem would last and it caused him to fast and pray. His prayer was for the restoration of the people of Israel, for the city of Jerusalem and for the sanctuary of the Lord. He was asking for forgiveness on behalf of the people.  

Here again we see an example of a godly man who had special favor with God because he sought after God. God revealed many things to him and this time, in recognition of his heart of seeking God and seeking forgiveness on other’s behalf and because he once again had fasted and prayed, the Lord sent him a special message through His messenger, Gabriel:

Daniel 9:22-23 (NIV) “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision..."

Gabriel went ahead and told him what the meaning of the vision was but the awesome part of this story is that God wanted to let Daniel know how highly He thought of him and that as soon as he started to pray, He had sent the answer!  I can imagine how Daniel felt upon hearing those words from God!  

God honors those who honor Him and when you seek Him with all of your heart, He favors you and listens to the cry of your heart and goes into action on your behalf!  Seek the Lord with a sincere heart like Daniel did, and you too will be highly esteemed by God!

Pastor Joey Vazquez