The First Step in Crisis: Listen and Let God Speak

I read this morning in Daniel 9:1-2,  “It was the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede, the son of Ahasuerus, who became king of the Babylonians. During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the LORD, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years.” (NLT)

Prayer is the key to enduring any crisis.

I can learn a lot from Daniel and his prayer life. As an old man when the time came closer for the Israelites to return to their homeland, Daniel knew his people were not ready. The Israelites still did not have a right relationship with God. This grieved Daniel, so he prayed.

His prayer in Daniel 9 provides important pieces about how to pray in a way that God answers during a crisis. We’ll look at each of these six steps over the next few days.

First, let God speak to me before I speak to him.

I need to hear the voice of God. He will always make the first move. He never expects me to do something he doesn’t do first. The Bible says I love God because he first loved me. I serve him because he first served me. God initiates. Then, I respond.

So how do I listen to God? I read His Word. I talk to God because he first talked with me through his Word.

Daniel did this: “It was the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede, the son of Ahasuerus, who became king of the Babylonians. During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the LORD, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years” (Daniel 9:1-2 NLT).

I will never pray effectively until I study Scripture and listen to God. The more I know the Bible, the more effective my prayers will be.

In summary, Daniel learned from reading the word of the LORD, I can as well. Prayer is the key to enduring any crisis. I can learn a lot from Daniel and his prayer life. In Daniel chapter 9, he provides important pieces about how to pray in a way that God answers during a crisis. First, I let God speak to me before I speak to him. I need to hear the voice of God. He will always make the first move. Just like I love God because he first loved me and I serve him because he first served me. God initiates. Then, I respond. I listen to God by reading His Word. I talk to God because he first talked with me through his Word. The more I know the Bible, his word, the more effective my prayers will be.

Father, my study today has helped point out that I need to listen to you first. This comes from getting into your Word. I can then pray effectively about what I’m facing. With what I have been facing I know that I need to put my trust in you, and do what I know is right. I need to follow leadership and set an example for others. I ask you also for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my future role and my interaction with others. I pray this through our Son Jesus’, my savior's name, amen.