Being Changed By The Power Of Prayer (UK)Sample

The Power and Participation of Prayer

Prayer gives us direct access to a perfect, holy God. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords actively engages with us through the power of His Spirit. Not only does He give us access to that power, but He teaches us how to use it for His glory and not our own. 

In the Old Testament book of Daniel, we can see how God moved through the prayers of Daniel and his friends. King Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler of Babylon, had a disturbing dream that he needed to have interpreted. When none of his normal interpreters understood the dream, Nebuchadnezzar sent out people to kill all the “wise men” including Daniel and his friends. 

Instead of running away or fighting back, Daniel and his friends turned to God. God gave Daniel the wisdom and power to approach the King with a valid interpretation of the dream, leading to Nebuchadnezzar sparing the lives of Daniel, his friends, and the other wise men in the city.

In this story, we see how God equips His people with the power to confront what’s facing them. Daniel needed supernatural wisdom to meet the king’s needs, and the Lord provided just that. King Nebuchadnezzar later puts Daniel in a great position of power because of this incident, and despite the new temptations that come with position, Daniel continues to seek God’s guidance and power.

Through his obedience, Daniel also demonstrates the responsibility of the praying person. When Daniel stands before Nebuchadnezzar, he recognises that his power came from God, not from himself (2:27-28). Instead of taking credit and becoming obsessed with his power, Daniel tells the king about the great power of God. 

While you read the longer passage for today, pay close attention to all the ways that God provides for Daniel. Also, look at how Daniel consistently points back to God.