Week 33 Daniel 9 & 10
Prayer #1:
In chapter 9 Daniel prays a serious prayer: I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I wore rough sackcloth and sprinkled myself with ashes.
The chapter records that sixteen-verse prayer…and then this happens: as I was praying, Gabriel…came swiftly to me…He explained to me, “Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding. The moment you began praying, a command was given. I am here to tell you what it was”.
Prayer #2:
Daniel had a slightly different experience in the next chapter. Just like before it was a serious prayer: I, Daniel, had been mourning for three weeks. All that time I had eaten no rich food or meat, had drunk no wine, and had used no fragrant oils.
Eventually a man (who was in reality more-than-a-man) appeared: don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself…your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.
Prayer #1 Response Time: swiftly.
Prayer #2 Response Time: twenty-one days.
In both cases Daniel prayed and the prayer was registered/received – from the look of it – right away. But the response times were different.
Even though Daniel’s prayers arrived instantly he found out that he had to expect and manage shorter and longer feedback wait times.
Note: quotes from Daniel 9:3 21-22 & 10:2-3 12 (NLT)