In Daniel chapter 9 we find Daniel praying to God about his people in exile. He fully acknowledges that they have sinned as a people, he fully realises that they are to blame for the situation that they find themselves in. Then he prays and asks that God would forgive and deliver them from what they are facing. He compels God to hear his prayer and to act. There is a verse in the middle of it that really jumps out to me. Daniel prays;

We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Daniel 9:18b

I love this.

That’s the source of any request we make to God. Too often I have been guilty of thinking because “I have done so much for God” (yes I hear the arrogance) that God should answer my prayers! I guess all I can say is “thank you God” that this isn’t how it works.

If God answered prayer in accordance to my obedience I would see very few answers to prayer

I’m so thankful for His mercy. His glorious mercy that looks upon my mess and rearranges it to look like something beautiful. There’s nothing that I could do to equal or make it up for what Jesus has done, does, and will do for us.

Not because of us, but you