Return...

I just got back from a retreat to Lake Tahoe with our incoming Freshmen from the Jr. High youth group and can say that I am truly and utterly exhausted, but enocuraged nonetheless. May I leave you with a thought that struck me on the shore of the lake two mornings ago; your responses are welcome.

In Daniel 9, we see the prophet Daniel lamenting to God and praying for his people, who are wicked. He prays for mercy, and states the seemingly obvious: "we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly adn rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules..." (v.5). Why is it that we do not, like Daniel, pray to God for the obvious? It was apparent that the people Israel had done wrong and were in dire need of God's mercy and salvation, and yet, Daniel stated such and goes on in his prayer to completely humble himself before his God, and finally requests Him to "pay attention and act".

Do we not ask these things of God in our prayers because we question His ability to respond? Are we afraid of His response, leary of His judgment? Why is it do we not ask for help and the meeting of obvious needs in our lives and the lives of others, if we know our God to be faithful to answer?