Have you ever prayed only to wonder if the words in your heart made it above the ceiling? Perhaps you've pondered if anybody up there is even listening. Oh yes, we've all at times wanted to shout, "Hello! Anybody home?"
At times, I've wondered if I'm just like a big bat sending out prayerful sonar signals that only bounce off the ceiling back upon my already burdened heart, leaving me further blinded to the Almighty's reality for me. How about you?
We desire to know that God does respond to our pleas when the words of our heart approach His throne with humility and reverence.
Long ago the prophet Daniel entered into a conversation with God about something near and dear to him. It concerned the fate of Jerusalem. The events surrounding this prayer resonate with the heavenly assurance granted to another prophet, Amos the shepherd, through whom our Maker promised, "Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7).
Yes, God promises that He will make His followers aware of His purpose, plans and provisions, but let's ask ourselves, "What allows our prayers to gain access above that ceiling over our heads?" Bottom line: How do we go from a dead-end monologue to a connective dialogue that ushers forth results?
Kneeling by Daniel
Let's kneel down beside Daniel and listen in as he pours his heart out to God as recorded in Daniel 9. He's been studying God's message to Jeremiah, and he has "put two and two together" and realized that the 70 years of desolation foretold for Jerusalem (Jeremiah 25:11-12) is coming to an end (Daniel 9:2).
