What makes an effective intercessor? This is the question addressed by one of our newest daily devotional series. Based on the solid teaching of Derek Prince, one of the founders of Intercessors for America, this series looks at 4 effective intercessors from the Bible and gleans lessons on powerful intercession from their lives. This excerpt is day 3, focusing on the persistence and focus of Daniel in prayer. To sign up to receive this daily devotional series, click here.

“The third example of an intercessor is found in the book of Daniel. We can learn much from his prayer life, chronicled in chapter 6.  His persistence in prayer is seen in the fact that he faithfully prayed three times every day.  His focus in prayer is proven by his habit of praying with an open window which faced Jerusalem. And today, if we are to move from a casual prayer life to the ministry of intercession – which every Christian can and may do – it is essential for us to also cultivate a consistent prayer life, focusing on specific objectives that are in line with the will of God.

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This was all tested for Daniel to the utmost in chapter 6, where his enemies arranged a “trap” to force him to pray only to the Emperor rather than to his true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Daniel had become, as it were, the Prime Minister of the Persian Empire. However, the men under him were jealous of him, but when they could find no fault in him or his work, they attacked him through his religion. Of course, that was impossible for Daniel. He would not pray to the emperor, so he continued his habit of praying three times every day with his window open toward Jerusalem, even if it meant going to the lions’ den.

It is important to note that Satan feared Daniel’s prayers so much that he worked to get the law changed to prevent him from praying. Do our prayers frighten the devil? Could we today get a law changed to hinder our praying? What would be our response? Would we pray anyway?

Next we find that Daniel discovered from Jeremiah 29:10-13 that “the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.” When he realized that the 70 years was nearing completion, he began to pray. But how did he pray? Though not a word is spoken in Scripture about any sin or wrong-doing in his personal life, he identified with his people by approaching God with “We have sinned…” (How unlike the Pharisee who said, “I am not like other men.”) He was also responding to God’s invitation to “seek Him with all his heart,” and so, with godly mourning for the desolation of Jerusalem, he further humbled himself with fervent prayer, fasting, and sackcloth and ashes.

God had said, “I’m ready to do this, but you people have to meet my conditions – call upon Me and pray – and I will listen.” Daniel felt that his knowledge of God’s plans placed personal responsibility upon him for appropriate action. The lesson for us is clear. It is necessary that the original and primary source of inspiration, direction, and understanding of the will of God should always come from the Scriptures.

So what can we learn from Daniel’s life?

(1)   We must have dedication to the task, even at the cost of life itself.

(2)  We must have a willingness to identify with those for whom we intercede.

Daniel could easily have “put on a mask” and identified with the new Babylonian regime, but he chose to remain faithful to the one, true God. Thus he was able to intercede with spiritual power and insight. His intercession no doubt was effective with God as the captivity period came to a close and plans were laid for the restoration of the wall of Jerusalem and for the Temple.

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Author Derek Prince (1915-2003) was an internationally known Bible teacher and a “founding father” of Intercessor for America. Born in India of British parents, he became an American citizen primarily due to his unwavering belief that our biblical heritage made America the strongest hope to ignite a revival for the restoration of godly government and a restoration of biblical standards before the return of Jesus Christ, Lord of the Church. His best known book among intercessors (Shaping History through Prayer and Fasting) portrayed his belief in prayer and fasting to receive God’s highest blessings, both for individuals and for our nation. This series is a summary of the author’s own words; however, some editorial adjustments are made for space and clarity.