In conversation with loved ones, especially kids and grandkids, you’ve probably heard the phrase “I love you to the moon and back”. This expression gained popularity from the 1994 children’s book Guess How Much I Love You, and it’s a common way to express deep, unconditional love.
I have fond memories of grandkids playing the fun game of the first person saying “I love you to the moon and back” and then a response came of “I love you more”! Then a laughing, giggle style, game of who could say “love you more” last!
How often have you heard “God loves you”? I wager if you are in scripture often, attend church or listen to sermons, you have heard it a lot. And if you ever ventured on mission trips with your church or a ministry, it was a core concept shared throughout! Along with the knowledge that you just can’t “out-love” God!
Blackaby delivered the message again to me via Daniel’s experience with God in chapter 9 of the book of Daniel. Daniel is one of my favorite bible heroes – the story of him being faithful to God and his deliverance in the lions’ den (Daniel 6:10-23) is such an example of how to handle a “real” crises. I am just in awe of him.
But I was not as familiar with Daniel’s petitioning of the Lord in chapter 9 of the book of Daniel. Daniel was in exile with the Jews who were in Babylon after their utter defeat and removal from Israel by the Babylonians – as a result of their unfaithfulness. As Daniel realized the time of deliverance was near – God had committed to restoring the people after 70 years – it was clear to Daniel that God fulfilling the prophecy of restoration was a matter of God’s own holiness and character.
Blackaby points out that Daniel did what he had done so many times before: he prayed. Other sources make it clear that it was not a prayer based on selfish motives, like “get me out of here” type of thing. Instead, his concern was that God would be proved to be holy. Looking at v. 19 of chapter 9, it shows up – “Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and act! My God, for Your own sake, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”
I appreciate Blackaby’s pointing out that there had been times when Daniel’s love for God had been put to the test but now, when Daniel was in need of trying to understand and make sense of the circumstances and the prophecy, he prayed. And BOOM! The angel Gabriel showed up! Immediately! At the beginning of Daniel’s prayer – God didn’t even wait for Daniel to finish his prayer.
And when Gabriel revealed that God had sent him – the “why” of God’s quick response was given. Gabriel, in Daniel 9:22, “…gave this explanation: ‘Daniel, I’ve come now to give you understanding. At the beginning of your petitions an answer went out, and I have come to give it, for you are treasured by God. So consider the message and understand the vision….’” In other words, God loved Daniel greatly. Right when Daniel was in need, God was quick to respond to him in love.
Here’s the key Blackaby shares with us. “God wants to answer the prayers of those whose hearts are completely His (2 Chronicles 16:9). God can accurately orient you to the events of your day. Media, public opinion, and political leaders cannot tell you the truth of your circumstances. Only God can. God loves you and will speak to you in His time.”
Wow! I love that picture and encouragement. And I know that God’s answer to prayer may not come immediately like it did in this instance with Daniel, but I can be assured that it will come.
Daniel 10:13 is an amazing passage where an evil angel (or Satan) opposed God’s angel who had been sent to Daniel with the Lord’s answer to Daniel’s prayers. In fact, this opposing evil fought or engaged the Lord’s angel for 21 days, 3 weeks – which was the time Daniel had been fasting and praying. The Lord’s angel tells Daniel that Michael, one of the chief angels, had to come help him get free of fighting the evil angel for him to be able to reach Daniel and answer the prayers. So we have no idea of the unseen battles in the heavenly realms, the spiritual warfare, that often accompanies our earthly situations.
Just as the angel delivering the message to Daniel in Daniel 9:23 said, “For you are treasured by God.” And no, that is not just for Daniel. As humbling as it is to consider, God says the same thing to me. I am treasured by Him. And to each of us. Just sit and soak in that for a minute. God gets the last “love you more” in every exchange.
Blackaby’s point is hugely valuable in this lesson around Daniel: “If it seems as though everything is crumbling around you, and you wonder why you do not see God’s activity, take comfort in knowing that you are loved in heaven. If you are genuinely seeking God’s answer, you can go to your Father confidently with your questions. He will respond to you in love (Luke 11:5-13)”
So it seems that our first focus should be on the condition of our heart – WHY are we asking God in prayer and seeking His presence and intervention. Is our motivation and purpose in alignment with His will?
Secondly, we are to continue faithfully to pray and seek His answers to our prayers, no matter how long or how silent it seems to be in response. When we can remember that our prayers are really a communication of “love you more” God — more than anything else — we can be assured that we will receive His “love you more” as the final word and response as He answers us, in His time and in His way.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
