Embracing Hope Through Humility and Repentance

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Brokenness Before God

Description: Embracing a posture of brokenness before God is crucial for our spiritual growth. It humbles us and opens us up to receive God's mercy and grace. This brokenness is not about self-pity but about recognizing our dependence on God and His power to restore us. When we come before God with a broken and contrite heart, we acknowledge our need for His intervention in our lives. This humility allows us to experience His transformative power and deepens our relationship with Him. [08:11]

Psalm 51:17 (ESV): "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

Reflection: Think of a situation where you have been trying to handle things on your own. How can you come before God with a broken and humble heart, acknowledging your need for His help today?

Day 2: Centering Prayers on God's Character

Description: When our prayers focus on God's character—His greatness, righteousness, and mercy—it shifts the pressure from us to Him. This focus helps us trust in His promises and find hope in His faithfulness, rather than being overwhelmed by our circumstances. By centering our prayers on who God is, we remind ourselves of His unchanging nature and His ability to fulfill His promises. This shift in focus can bring peace and assurance, knowing that our hope is anchored in God's character. [14:03]

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Reflection: In your prayer time today, focus on praising God for His attributes. How does acknowledging His greatness, righteousness, and mercy change your perspective on your current challenges?

Day 3: The Power of Inclusive Confession

Description: Daniel's prayer of repentance is a "we" confession, not a "they" confession. He identifies with the collective sin of Israel, teaching us the importance of communal repentance and taking responsibility for our part in the brokenness. This approach fosters unity and humility within the body of Christ. By confessing our sins together, we acknowledge our shared need for God's forgiveness and grace, which can strengthen our community and deepen our collective faith. [16:15]

Nehemiah 1:6-7 (ESV): "Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses."

Reflection: Reflect on the ways you have contributed to the brokenness in your community. How can you join with others in a prayer of communal repentance today?

Day 4: The Importance of Specific Confession

Description: Being specific in our confessions allows us to fully acknowledge our sins and receive God's mercy. Vague confessions can minimize the seriousness of our sins, but specific confessions bring them into the light, allowing for true repentance and healing. When we name our sins specifically, we confront them directly and open ourselves up to God's transformative power. This practice helps us to be honest with ourselves and with God, leading to deeper spiritual growth and freedom. [18:32]

1 John 1:9 (ESV): "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Reflection: Take a moment to specifically name the sins you need to confess to God. How does being specific in your confession change your experience of repentance and forgiveness?

Day 5: Finding Hope in God's Mercy

Description: Repentance leads us to trust in God's mercy and find hope in His promises. Daniel's prayer culminates in a plea for God's mercy, reminding us that our hope is not in our righteousness but in God's character and His plan for restoration. When we pray according to God's will, we find hope and assurance in His faithfulness. This hope is rooted in the understanding that God's mercy is greater than our failures and that His promises are sure. [21:16]

Micah 7:18-19 (ESV): "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."

Reflection: Reflect on a promise of God that brings you hope. How can you hold onto this promise and trust in God's mercy in your current situation?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, church family. Today, we reflect on the freedom we have in Christ, which surpasses any earthly freedom. We continue our series in the book of Daniel, focusing on Daniel chapter nine, where Daniel prays a profound prayer of repentance. Despite facing numerous challenges, Daniel never loses hope. His prayer of repentance is a model for us on how to maintain hope through humility and brokenness before God.

Daniel's prayer is rooted in his deep meditation on the Word of God, specifically the promises found in Jeremiah 29. He realizes that the 70-year exile of Israel is nearing its end and is moved to seek God with a broken and humble spirit. This posture of brokenness is essential for Christians, as it brings us low before the Lord and opens us up to His mercy and grace.

Daniel's prayer is centered on God's character, acknowledging His greatness, righteousness, and mercy. This focus shifts the pressure from us to God, reminding us that our hope lies in His promises and character. Daniel's confession is inclusive, recognizing the collective sin of Israel and not just pointing fingers at others. This teaches us the importance of communal repentance and taking responsibility for our part in the brokenness.

As we embrace a posture of repentance, we are reminded of the power of specific confession. Being honest and real about our sins allows us to receive God's mercy fully. Daniel's prayer culminates in a plea for God's mercy, emphasizing that our hope is found in God's character and promises. When we pray according to God's will, we find hope and assurance in His faithfulness.

###

Key Takeaways

1. pity but about recognizing our dependence on God and His power to restore us. [08:11]
2. Centering on God's Character: When our prayers focus on God's character—His greatness, righteousness, and mercy—it shifts the pressure from us to Him. This focus helps us trust in His promises and find hope in His faithfulness, rather than being overwhelmed by our circumstances.

3. Inclusive Confession: Daniel's prayer of repentance is a "we" confession, not a "they" confession. He identifies with the collective sin of Israel, teaching us the importance of communal repentance and taking responsibility for our part in the brokenness. This approach fosters unity and humility within the body of Christ.

4. The Importance of Specific Confession: Being specific in our confessions allows us to fully acknowledge our sins and receive God's mercy. Vague confessions can minimize the seriousness of our sins, but specific confessions bring them into the light, allowing for true repentance and healing.

5. Finding Hope in God's Mercy: Repentance leads us to trust in God's mercy and find hope in His promises. Daniel's prayer culminates in a plea for God's mercy, reminding us that our hope is not in our righteousness but in God's character and His plan for restoration.

### [08:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:42] - Reflecting on Freedom in Christ
[01:27] - Introduction to Daniel Chapter Nine
[02:15] - Challenges and Hope in Daniel's Life
[03:06] - The Practice of Repentance
[04:32] - Daniel's Meditation on God's Promises
[05:36] - Posture of Repentance and Prayer
[06:26] - Jeremiah's Prophecy and Daniel's Response
[07:44] - Embracing Brokenness
[08:11] - The Secret to the Christian Life
[08:35] - Scriptures on Brokenness
[09:27] - The Importance of Humility
[10:27] - Daniel's Example of Spiritual Discipline
[11:14] - Encouragement for Older Believers
[12:03] - A Call to Humility and Teachability
[12:31] - Daniel's Confession and Trust in God's Character
[14:03] - Centering Prayers on God's Character
[15:44] - The Power of Inclusive Confession
[16:15] - Taking Responsibility for Sin
[17:28] - The Importance of Specific Confession
[18:32] - Going Deep and Getting Real
[19:37] - The Seriousness of Sin
[20:13] - Finding Hope in God's Mercy
[21:16] - Daniel's Plea for Mercy
[22:42] - Praying According to God's Will
[23:38] - Living a Lifestyle of Repentance
[25:48] - Opportunity for Confession and Healing
[29:19] - Closing Prayer and Reflection

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What specific event or realization prompted Daniel to pray his prayer of repentance in Daniel 9? ([04:32])
How does Daniel describe God's character in his prayer? List the attributes mentioned. ([14:51])
What posture does Daniel take before God in his prayer, and what actions accompany this posture? ([07:44])
According to Jeremiah 29:10-14, what does God promise to do for Israel after 70 years?

Interpretation Questions

Why is it significant that Daniel's prayer is centered on God's character rather than his own needs? How does this shift the focus of the prayer? ([14:03])
What does Daniel's inclusive confession ("we" rather than "they") teach us about communal repentance and taking responsibility for our part in the brokenness? ([16:15])
How does specific confession, as opposed to vague confession, impact our ability to receive God's mercy and grace? ([18:32])
In what ways does embracing a posture of brokenness and humility before God lead to spiritual growth and restoration? ([08:11])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt broken before God. How did that experience open you up to receive His mercy and grace? ([08:11])
When you pray, do you focus more on your own needs or on God's character? How can you shift your prayers to be more centered on God's greatness, righteousness, and mercy? ([14:03])
Think about a situation where you might have blamed others for a problem. How can you take responsibility for your part in the brokenness and practice communal repentance? ([16:15])
Are there specific sins in your life that you need to confess to God? How can being specific in your confession help you fully acknowledge your sins and receive God's mercy? ([18:32])
How can you cultivate a lifestyle of repentance and humility, similar to Daniel's example, regardless of your age or stage in life? ([11:14])
Identify one promise of God that you can meditate on this week. How can this promise give you hope and assurance in His faithfulness? ([06:26])
In what ways can you encourage others in your small group to embrace a posture of brokenness and humility before God? How can you support each other in this journey? ([09:58])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "What Daniel does here is he actually, he actually takes on a posture of brokenness before the Lord. He takes on a posture of brokenness. Now, I don't know about you, you probably didn't come to church this morning thinking like, man, I really need to be broken this morning. Like, I really need to be broken. I mean, I'm so broken. I've got so much brokenness in my life. But the truth is is that this is actually a secret to the Christian life." [08:11] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The secret to the Christian life is actually we are called to be a people who live broken before the Lord. It's the posture, that the Lord honors in our life. There's a couple scriptures that I want to point out to you and I'd really encourage you, take note of these scriptures, jot them down, go back and read through them this week." [08:35] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Repentance, it culminates in God's mercy. We know this to be true about God's character, that he is rich in love and full of mercy. And so Daniel prays according to who God is, and he finds hope in God's promises. I love the fact that when we pray according to God's will, that it takes all of the pressure off of us, and it puts all of the pressure on God." [21:59] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "One of the reassuring things for us as Christians is that we can have total confidence in Jesus when we cry out to him. I think sometimes many Christians struggle with maybe a weaker prayer life, or maybe we don't even practice this process of repentance. And blessed is God. So he simply just prays according God's will. Lifestyle life. Repentance." [23:38] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "I love this country. I love the freedoms that we have here to worship. But even as we sing that song this morning, nothing is better than the freedom that we have in Jesus. He is powerful. He is good. And, man, I just, I've loved reflecting on that point this week." [00:42] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Daniel's reading this passage and he actually perceives that God has a plan for his people and that this 70-year timeline is actually really close to coming to an end. And so as he's reading and meditating on this truth, the reality is Daniel's actually really cut to the heart. He's moved by the promises of God and what he does is he actually responds to the word of God. He responds." [07:10] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Daniel embraces this posture of brokenness in his life. And he's saying, God, I need you. I desperately need you. And he's praying and pleading for mercy. It's an important posture to take on. And this other posture that he's embracing as he embraces this posture of brokenness is a posture of humility." [09:58] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "I think one of the tragic lines that sometimes is really true is you can't teach an old dog new tricks. And sometimes older people have the tendency to get really stuck and set in their ways. But as Christians, we're called to live humble before the Lord, to be teachable no matter our ages. And so that's my question for us this morning. Do you have a broken and humble spirit before the Lord no matter your age? Are you desiring to know him more and more?" [12:03] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "When we practice repentance, when we come with a broken and a humble spirit before the Lord, we shouldn't be people who complain. We shouldn't be people who point blame. We should be people who confess, who confess. And I want to draw out another point here. I think there's great power to actually specific confession when we confess our prayers." [18:05] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "I love the fact that Daniel, he doesn't shy away from being honest about his sin. One of the things that I talk about a lot with guys when we practice discipleship and talking through sin, sin issues is to be specific about the sin, right? And we don't use language like, ah, like I tripped up, or like, oh, I messed up, or something like that. No, no, no, we use specific language. We say, man, we have betrayed God. We have betrayed Jesus. We take sin seriously, and we use serious language because we don't want to minimize it." [19:04] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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