Gabriel brought the answer when Daniel prayed for help (in the passage below).

Although shame was pervasive from disobedience, the Lord brought mercy and forgiveness after Daniel’s time in intercession. Daniel entreated God with pleas for mercy and forgiveness for his captive nation, to act without delay.

Gabriel brought Daniel understanding with a word from God. He also brought Daniel encouragement by calling him “greatly loved”.

Sometimes all we need is a word of encouragement in order to keep up the good fight.

I was reminded of this after doing a “school nurse” presentation for my daughter’s homeschool class. For all you teachers out there, “keep up the good fight”.

Our society is geared to tear the hearts of children from their families. In fact, students are being taught with a societal “twist” by using words that mean something much more destructive than meets the ear. Every word has an impact on culture. Kudos to the teachers that still bring a sense of meaning and understanding to our next generation.

The next generation is won over or lost based on these words. Are they based on God’s truth and His righteousness? Would we know, based on our own study of the Bible?

One thing we do know for sure is that God promises when we ask, seek and knock, that He will answer.

This Christmas, Lord, may our heart be fully yours. With praise, worship and prayer (fasting) we ask that your advent would be evident in our families and in the lives of our children and grandchildren.- Teresa #Emmanuel

Daniel 9:8-23 (ESV)*

⁸ To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. ⁹ To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him ¹⁰ and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. ¹¹ All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. ¹² He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us,^[a] by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem. ¹³ As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the Lordour God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. ¹⁵ And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly.

¹⁶ “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. ¹⁷ Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord,^[b] make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. ¹⁸ O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.¹⁹ O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

Gabriel Brings an Answer

²⁰ While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God for the holy hill of my God, ²¹ while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. ²² He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. ²³ At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.

*OneyearBibleonline