Prayers of the BibleSample

When was the last time you prayed as if God’s mercy was your only hope?

Today’s reading is about a prayer from the book of Daniel.

Daniel’s prayer is a masterpiece of humility and intercession. He begins by acknowledging God’s greatness: “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love.” But then he turns to confession—Israel has rebelled, ignored God’s commands, and rejected His prophets. Daniel doesn’t sugarcoat the sin or shift blame. Instead, he pleads for mercy, not because they deserve it, but because of God’s character: “We do not present our pleas because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.”

This echoes the gospel. Like Daniel, we confess not with excuses but with hope. Jesus, our intercessor, stands before the Father, offering His perfect righteousness in place of our sin. Because of Him, we can boldly approach God, confident in His forgiveness and love.

Prayer like Daniel’s reminds us that confession isn’t about wallowing in guilt—it’s about running to the God who redeems.

Today, ponder this: How does God’s mercy move you to confess freely, trusting that He hears and forgives?