Unshakeable Prayer
Unshakeable Prayer
Throughout Daniel’s life, there was a consistent pattern that defined him:
He was a man of prayer.
Scripture tells us he prayed three times a day—it was simply how he lived.
In Daniel 9, we find him praying once again. But here, Daniel gives us a unique insight into the structure of prayer that made him unshakeable.
Think about it—when Daniel faced death in the lions’ den, he never altered his habit of prayer.
Daniel knew about the prophecy God spoke through Jeremiah:
Daniel received this revelation in the first year of Darius the Mede, around 538 B.C. These events took place about twelve years after Daniel’s second vision in chapter 8.
If Daniel was taken captive around the age of fifteen in 605 B.C., by now he was over eighty years old. With only a few years of exile remaining, Daniel knew time was running out. Like Nehemiah after him, he prayed on behalf of his people who were about to return to Jerusalem.
At eighty years old, Daniel shows us what Unshakeable Prayer looks like.
When We Pray, Something Has Shaken Us
Usually, something moves us—shakes us—to pray:
He was a man of prayer.
Scripture tells us he prayed three times a day—it was simply how he lived.
In Daniel 9, we find him praying once again. But here, Daniel gives us a unique insight into the structure of prayer that made him unshakeable.
Think about it—when Daniel faced death in the lions’ den, he never altered his habit of prayer.
Daniel knew about the prophecy God spoke through Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 29:10
10 For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.
Daniel received this revelation in the first year of Darius the Mede, around 538 B.C. These events took place about twelve years after Daniel’s second vision in chapter 8.
If Daniel was taken captive around the age of fifteen in 605 B.C., by now he was over eighty years old. With only a few years of exile remaining, Daniel knew time was running out. Like Nehemiah after him, he prayed on behalf of his people who were about to return to Jerusalem.
At eighty years old, Daniel shows us what Unshakeable Prayer looks like.
When We Pray, Something Has Shaken Us
Usually, something moves us—shakes us—to pray:
- Praying for health
- Praying for finances
- Praying for marriages
- Praying for restoration
- Praying for children
Daniel 9: 1-23
1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 3 Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 4 And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, 5 we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. 6 Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land. 7 O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You. 8 “O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him. 10 We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets. 11 Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him. 12 And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for under the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem. 13 “As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth. 14 Therefore the Lord has kept the disaster in mind, and brought it upon us; for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have done wickedly! 16 “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. 17 Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. 19 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.” 20 Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, 21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. 23 At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:
1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 3 Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 4 And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, 5 we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. 6 Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land. 7 O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You. 8 “O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him. 10 We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets. 11 Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him. 12 And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for under the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem. 13 “As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth. 14 Therefore the Lord has kept the disaster in mind, and brought it upon us; for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have done wickedly! 16 “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. 17 Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. 19 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.” 20 Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, 21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. 23 At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:
1. Shaken Towards God "Broken"
Daniel 9:3
Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
Psalm 34:14
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit
Notice Daniel’s deep brokenness.
This wasn’t a casual, bedtime prayer. He had been here before—praying at the window before the lions’ den, praying for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Daniel prepared his heart and was broken over his sin and the sin of his people.
Are we broken? Broken not only over our own sin but also over the brokenness around us?
Scripture is clear: God breaks those who are proud and rebellious.
Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
Psalm 34:14
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit
Notice Daniel’s deep brokenness.
This wasn’t a casual, bedtime prayer. He had been here before—praying at the window before the lions’ den, praying for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Daniel prepared his heart and was broken over his sin and the sin of his people.
Are we broken? Broken not only over our own sin but also over the brokenness around us?
Scripture is clear: God breaks those who are proud and rebellious.
2. Shaken At God "Confession"
Daniel 5:4-13
4 And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession . . .
5 we have sinned and committed iniquity,
we have done wickedly and rebelled . . .
6 Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land.
8 . . .we have sinned against You.
10 We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws, . . .
11 Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice;
13 “As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth.
Daniel didn’t hold back. He was specific, honest, and thorough in confessing the failures of his people.
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Whenever we pray privately, our communication with God should be detailed and intimate. We are sharing ourselves with the One who knows us completely and loves us perfectly.
Confession acknowledges how much we need His forgiveness. Telling God the details isn’t for Him—He already knows—it’s for us. It declares that we trust Him with everything.
4 And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession . . .
5 we have sinned and committed iniquity,
we have done wickedly and rebelled . . .
6 Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land.
8 . . .we have sinned against You.
10 We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws, . . .
11 Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice;
13 “As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth.
Daniel didn’t hold back. He was specific, honest, and thorough in confessing the failures of his people.
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Whenever we pray privately, our communication with God should be detailed and intimate. We are sharing ourselves with the One who knows us completely and loves us perfectly.
Confession acknowledges how much we need His forgiveness. Telling God the details isn’t for Him—He already knows—it’s for us. It declares that we trust Him with everything.
3. Shaken From God "Except and Expect Discipline)"
Daniel 9: 14, 16
14 Therefore the Lord has kept the disaster in mind, and brought it upon us; for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice.
16 “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem.
Deuteronomy 28:15-68 spells out the curses for disobedience:
Deuteronomy 28:58,59,68
58 If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name—the Lord your God—
Discipline . . .
59 the Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses.
68 The Lord will send you back in ships to Egypt on a journey I said you should never make again. There you will offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy you.
Discipline is how God lovingly turns His children from rebellion back to obedience.
Discipline is a good thing. Accept it. Expect it. Let it shape you.
14 Therefore the Lord has kept the disaster in mind, and brought it upon us; for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice.
16 “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem.
Deuteronomy 28:15-68 spells out the curses for disobedience:
Deuteronomy 28:58,59,68
58 If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name—the Lord your God—
Discipline . . .
59 the Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses.
68 The Lord will send you back in ships to Egypt on a journey I said you should never make again. There you will offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy you.
Discipline is how God lovingly turns His children from rebellion back to obedience.
- Discipline opens our eyes to God’s perspective.
- Discipline drives us to confess and repent.
- Discipline cleanses and matures us.
Discipline is a good thing. Accept it. Expect it. Let it shape you.
4. Shaken In God "Repent"
Daniel 9:17–19
Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant...incline Your ear and hear...O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act!
Daniel wasn’t asking for justice—he was pleading for mercy.
Have you truly repented? Do you know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior?
Biblical repentance means:
Matthew 3:7
...flee from the coming wrath...
Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant...incline Your ear and hear...O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act!
Daniel wasn’t asking for justice—he was pleading for mercy.
Have you truly repented? Do you know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior?
Biblical repentance means:
- Changing your mind about sin—it is no longer something to toy with but something to forsake.
- Changing your mind about Jesus—He is no longer ignored or mocked but clung to as Savior and worshiped as Lord.
Matthew 3:7
...flee from the coming wrath...
5. Shaken By The Love of God "Delivered"
Daniel 9:22–23
O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand...you are greatly beloved.
Before God explained the vision, He reminded Daniel: You are loved.
God’s nature is to love.
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God lavishes love on undeserving, rebellious people. He did it for Daniel. He does it for us.
Without ceasing, pray unshakeable prayers. Be steadfast, honest, broken, repentant, and full of expectation that God will move.
Romans 5:8
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us"
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us"
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