1. Prayer based on Bible study (1-3)

Daniel was a POW in Babylon, but he could understand God's will for the nations because he studied the Bible. He found in Jeremiah 25:11 God's promise that the Jewish exiles would return home after 70 years of Babylonian captivity, so he prayed according to God's promise. God heard his prayer.

2. Repentant prayer (4-27)

Daniel worshiped God who keeps his covenant of love by blessing those who love and obey him, and punishing those who rebel against him (10,11,12). The real reason for God's people's shameful captivity was sin. Daniel does not make excuses for or gloss over the sins of his people. He repents for them and for himself. He asks God's mercy. God is righteous, but he is also merciful, and he has a sense of honor about the people who bear his name. God sent an angel to teach Daniel about the end of the age, and to assure him that God had heard his prayer, for he was highly esteemed. God highly esteems those who pray and repent.

Application: Lord, help me to be a warrior of prayer for my nation and for the world.
One Word: God hears repentant prayers