ANTICIPATION

Remember that old commercial when the kid went to the wise old owl to find out how many licks it took to reach the center of a tootsie pop? There was no question that the chocolate center existed, and that it would be reached eventually, so the owl began to count. One, two, three, and then the owl bit into the lollypop and announced that it took three licks, to reach the center. He couldn’t stand the anticipation and wanted to get to the tootsie roll center quickly.

This is what was going on with Daniel. Okay, he wasn’t eating a lollypop, but he was anticipating the time when the Jews would be freed from captivity. God had given Daniel a vision that the captivity would last 70 years, and 67 had passed when he cried out to God with this prayer.

Three years to go! How could he wait so long? He had to cry out to God, he just couldn’t wait.

When Daniel prays, he uses the A C T S formula;

Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication

This is an effective frame work for prayer.

State your love for God, confess your sins, give thanks for the gifts you have received, and then bring your petitions to him.