Daniel 9 holds the intimate words of a prayer of confession. As we were reminded through the sermon, Daniel made a habit of praying to his God three times a day, facing Jerusalem. He had created a liturgy in his life in which each day was shaped around his times of prayer.

So what does it look like for prayer to be a liturgy in my own life? As we've been studying Daniel, I've had numerous moments of recognition that prayer is not engrained in my life enough because I doubt it's effectiveness.

Not too long ago, our friends, the Whippos, were in the hospital with their infant son. A text and a Facebook post came through asking for prayer for their sweet Augustine. Fear filled my mind, and I immediately asked my husband what else we could do. "Do you think they need meals? Do you think someone is taking care of their dog? Maybe Brian needs help with worship on Sunday?" I was frantically trying to come up with practical ideas to show our care and support. Josh responded, "We've been asked to pray. I'm sure if they need anything else, we will be told, but now it's time to pray."

After our friends, the Biersgreens, lost their infant daughter, I had become weary of praying. I longed to DO something. I was thankful when they asked for help with home renovations and cleaning. Walking through Target to purchase a few items for them felt more productive than prayer.

Why is prayer not enough? Isn't it the stronger tool? Isn't it actually more effective than all those other things? Prayer IS doing something; it is taking action. It is loving, caring, supportive, and usually it's exactly what people need from us.

Looking at Daniel's prayer in chapter 9 makes me realize how much I long to make prayer into a liturgy in my life. Daniel enters into confession on behalf of his people, but includes himself in it. He says, "WE have sinned..., WE have not listened..., WE have rebelled against you..."

What care and love Daniel shows for his people as he not only comes before the Lord in prayer for them, but he enters into their guilt, and cries out to the Lord in repentance including himself in their transgressions.

May I be eager and willing to go to the Lord in prayer in whatever circumstance prayer is requested. I'm sure that this eagerness will grow if my prayer life is not only present when there is a traumatic situation at hand, but is truly a liturgy in my daily life.

~ Emily Spare