November 15

He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man who is highly precious. Consider carefully the words that I am about to say to you. Stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had said this to me, I stood up trembling. — Dan 10:11 BSB

This was the divine character ascribed to Daniel. In our version, it is translated as “O man, greatly beloved,” but it literally means “O man of desires.” This is an essential quality in all spiritual power. Desire is one of the secrets of effective prayer: “Whatever you desire when you pray, believe that you have received it.” Strong desire adds momentum to our prayers and purposes. Indifference is unhealthy, and laziness and apathy are offensive to both God and nature.

In our spiritual lives, God often uses difficult circumstances to wake us up and push us into new places of trust. There is no greater force in prayer than love. When we are intensely interested in someone or something, our prayers become powerful and alive. They not only convey our requests to God but also, in some sense, bring God’s help back to the person or situation we are praying for.

May God fill us today with Christ’s heart so that we may burn with the holy fire of divine desire.