You are Treasured
“The moment you began praying, a command was given.
And now I am here to tell you what it was,
for you are very precious to God.”
Daniel 9:23 (NLT)
A few weeks ago, a few girlfriends and I revisited Daniel’s prayer in the 9th chapter of the Old Testament. My familiarity caused me to approach this passage with a new intentionality. What I discovered was something fresh and profound, a revelation that I am so excited to share with you.
In this portion of scripture, Daniel pleads with God as he prays for the people of Israel. Nineteen verses record praise, confession, and a deep cry for forgiveness. It was verse 23 that deeply touched me: “He (referring to the angel Gabriel) came to me to explain,”(this reminds me of our need for understanding), “for you are precious to God.'' Gabriel first told Daniel “the moment you began praying I was sent to you.” DO Y’ALL HEAR the significance??? Despite our sinful nature, God declares we are precious! Other versions describe Gabriel’s message like this:
“For you are greatly loved” (ESV)
“For you are a precious treasure to God” (The Passion Translation)
“For you are highly regarded and greatly beloved” ( AMP)
“For thou are greatly beloved” (KJV)
Would you allow that message to settle within your heart today?
I believe this ancient passage is meant to strengthen, empower and encourage us. The magnitude of this statement should impact us for good. This life journey, at times, is beyond difficult. Based on what scripture has recorded, I imagine Jesus must have felt the same way at times. Some of our past mistakes and failures are things we are not proud of. God wants us to know first and foremost- HE TREASURES US! Acknowledging and confessing our sins will bring God's compassion upon us.
For Your Prayer Journey
I have learned that praying has many benefits and I want to encourage you today; search out and pray scripture. One of the most important benefits is to grow in our understanding of God’s character and His love. Simply put - I love to pray scripture! It is a powerful way to draw near to God. Here is a gift for you, print or download this prayer . I have friends who have told me they keep this handy and pray for a loved one when hard times come.
Some other beautiful prayers within Scripture can be found here:
Hannah’s Prayer of Praise - 2 Samuel 2:1-10
Nehemiah’s Arrow Prayer - Nehemiah 1:11
Paul's Prayer for the Church - Ephesians 1:15-23
A Prayer of Blessing - Numbers 6:24-
Of course, the familiar Lord’s Prayer is found in Matthew 6:9-13
I believe God wants each of us to grasp His great love for us, recognizing how treasured we are by the creator of the universe. Prayer draws me closer to God, and often, through the practice of prayer and studying His word, I am able to sense the presence of His unmistakable love. Today, I am reminded of our worth in the eyes of God.
We are children of a loving, compassionate God -- can you accept that divine truth?
If you found this helpful, please leave a comment below.
