As I was reading Daniel 9:1-27, I was deeply struck by v. 18. The Prophet Daniel said: “Give ear, our God and hear; open Your eyes and see, the desolation of the city that bears Your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of YOUR great mercy.”
Why did Daniel, despite being a righteous man, identified himself with the sinfulness of his people? When he prayed and interceded for his nation, he included himself in his prayer of confession. He could have said to the Lord that He is devout, pious and, certainly, more righteous that his fellow Jews. Yet he didn’t do so because he knew his best was and will never be enough. He wouldn’t even be able to approach God if it were not for God’s great mercy and grace.
The closer a person is to God, the more he will see how utterly sinful and unworthy he is and how completely holy our Lord is. Let us be wary when we begin to feel puffed up by our own “spirituality/religiousness”. There is no way we can achieve the righteousness required to meet God’s standard on our own. It is only through God’s great mercy.
May we see ourselves for who we really are and God for who He really is.
May we fast and pray according to His leading and may we all be blessed and be a blessing to others.
Daniel's Lighthouse 