Repent Like a Prophet

In our church, Friday is intended to be a day of fasting and commitment to pray for those who do not know Christ or have fallen away. Today, during our regular Friday Bible study/prayer meeting, we read a passage from Daniel chapter 9 that caught my otherwise fading attention. Why fading? A long day at work and lack of sleep results in a lack of proper attentiveness, therefore, I was entering "zone-out" mode. Fortunately, God has a way of keeping us on our toes. The ninth chapter in the Book of Daniel is an account of history many do not wish to see to this day. But it's not the history that caught my attention. When Daniel realized his (and Israel's) position before the Lord, it says he set his "face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes". The remaining verses in the chapter mostly make up his prayer and the appearance of an angel of God, Gabriel. Near the end of his prayer, in verse 19, Daniel says the following:

O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.

Can you feel the stress level of this man when you read those lines? On Friday night, I did. When was the last time I came before God, fell on my knees and cried out for myself and my people? "But you're already a member of the Church!", you say. Yes, but was Daniel not already a servant of the Lord? What did he have to repent about? This is where we must come to a very grim conclusion... we do not repent the way we ought to. We do not admit our sinfulness before the almighty, sinless God. Why would Daniel, a man of strong faith and works need to pray a prayer of deep repentance? Because he saw his own heart. Brother/sister in Christ, take a few moments out of your day to think about your position before the Lord. Is everything well with your soul? Are all of your words living up to your actions? Are you cleansed by the power of Christ's blood? Do other's see His image in you? If you answered no to at least one of those questions, stop reading this and pray the prayer of repentance. It is a most urgent action you must take! May the Lord be with you!