When we pray, what do we pray about? Studies show that prayer is by far the most common spiritual practice among Americans; just about half of Americans pray regularly. The good news is that the highest percentage of what Americans pray for is other people; for family, friends, and their community. This is what the Bible calls prayers of intercession, going before God on behalf of the needs of others. And almost half of those who pray also pray for their own sins, or what the Bible calls prayers of confession. As we are going through the book of Daniel together, Daniel 9 is almost entirely a prayer of confession and intercession. Daniel 9 teaches us how to intercede for people in our lives, and specifically to confess on behalf of and pray for those who aren’t praying or for those who need help. Let’s see what Daniel 9 can teach us this morning about the importance of confession and intercession.
