HOW TO PRAY IN A CRISIS
Seeking God for a Breakthrough – Part 1
DANIEL 9:1-23
1. LET GOD SPEAK TO ME BEFORE I SPEAK TO HIM
*READ YOUR BIBLE FIRST
“It was the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede who was made king of the Babylonians (by Cyrus). During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, was studying the Scriptures. I learned from the Word of the Lord, as recorded by Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years.” Daniel 9:1-2
“God says this to you: ‘You will be kept in Babylon for 70 years. But then I’ll keep my gracious promise to bring you back to your home again. For I know the plans I have for you’ says the Lord. “I have good plans for you, not plans for your disaster. My plans will give you hope and a future. In those days when you pray, I will listen.’” Jeremiah 29:10-12
“But if you stay in me and obey my commands, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!” John 15:7 (TLB)
“But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” John 15:7 (NLT)
How Does God Speak to me during a Crisis?
I. Through HIS WRITTEN WORD
II. Through HIS SPOKEN WORD
III. Through HIS PEOPLE
Why do I need to let God speak to me first?
o To find out what God has already said about my crisis.
o To know how to pray and what to ask for.
Prayer Principle:
God will not answer a prayer that violates His word or His character.
“… You do not have what you need, because you do not ask God for it!” James 4:2
(2) FACTORS: MY PRAYING & GOD’S TIMING
2. FOCUS MY ATTENTION ON GOD
“[So] I turned my face to the Lord God, SEEKING him…” Daniel 9:3a (ESV)
“So I gave my attention to the Lord to SEEK Him by prayer…” Daniel 9:3 (NASB)
God says this: “Seek me and you will live!” Amos 5:4
God says this: “I love those who love me, and those who seek me will [what?] find me!” Proverbs 8:17
God: “You will… find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
“… God rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
Jesus says this: “Seek, first God’s Kingdom, before everything else, and all the other things you need will be given to you.” Luke 12:31
“I will return to my place on high and wait until they, acknowledge their offenses, and feel their guilt, and seek my face; then in their troubles and distress they will earnestly seek me, saying, ‘Let us return to the Lord so that he may heal us.” Hosea 5:15