Daniel 9:4-10 / Luke 6:36-38
During this season of Lent, the importance of the spiritual discipline of prayer is emphasised over and over again.
It may mean that we make more time for prayer so that prayer becomes our priority not just during the season of Lent but also thereafter.
But it also means that as we pray and enter deeper into a communion with God in prayer, we also want to understand more about God and what He has done for us.
In the 1st reading, Daniel began his prayer by acknowledging who God is in these words: O Lord, God great and to be feared, you keep the covenant and have kindness for those who love you and keep your commandments .
Daniel acknowledged the greatness and faithfulness of God because that was what God had done for him. God blessed Daniel with status and authority even though he was in exile in Babylon. God gave Daniel the gift of prophecy. He saved Daniel in the lions' den and rescued him from his enemies' plots. Time and again, God showed Daniel His greatness and also His faithfulness.
That was Daniel's experience of God and as he prayed, he remembered and praised God for His greatness and faithfulness to him.
Similarly, when we pray and as we begin our prayer, let us remember how Jesus described who God the Father is. God is compassionate, He does not condemn and He grants pardon. He gives His love to us in a full measure and running over.
So as we offer God our time in prayer, let us remember the great things that He has done for us and how faithful He is to us.
When we remember to praise and thank God, then we will indeed be given a full measure of His grace and blessings, so that we too can share with others what God has given us.