Confidence for Prayer

For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. — Daniel 9:18 ESV

Do you ever approach God timidly, wondering if He fully accepts you? Do you let guilt or shame distance you from the one and only God, who would draw you near? Then perhaps this verse, Daniel’s confession, will stir in you as it has in me. In fact, stop for a moment and reread this verse, noting its truth, its promise, and its rest.

Now let’s unpack it together.

Truth. Implicit in Daniel’s prayer is the fact that we are not by nature righteous, and we cannot approach God with a righteousness we do not inherently have. Quoting from Psalm 14, Paul writes “There is no one righteous, not even one.”¹ Daniel’s confession likewise aligns us with this essential truth, putting God and us on the same page: our relationship with Him is not based on our insufficient merit, but God’s essential goodness. And aren’t we glad!  

Promise. Inherent in Daniel’s prayer is the promise of God’s “great mercy.” God is merciful by nature, and it is in mercy that He hears our prayers and answers them. God “delights in mercy,”² proclaims Micah, and this is His heart toward us. How reassuring!

Rest. Inferred in Daniel’s prayer is our need for a righteousness we cannot earn through our effort. The good news is that we have such a right standing with God “through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”³ Paul writes, “For as by [Adam’s] disobedience the many were made sinners, so by [Jesus’] obedience the many will be made righteous.”⁴ Our right standing before God is not earned through toil and seized by merit; it is given in love and received in gratitude. God has done what we could not; and we find peace in the assurance of His provision. What a relief.

Then standing firmly on truth of God’s righteousness and in the promise of His mercy, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”⁵ And in His presence, we rest.

Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” — Psalm 27:7-8 NLT

¹ Romans 3:10 NIV
² Micah 7:18 NASB
³ Philippians 3:9 NIV
⁴ Romans 5:19 ESV
⁵ Hebrews 4:16 ESV