What is a "Perfect Prayer"?
I was looking for a "perfect prayer."
There are so many.
Peter, when fearing for his life, prayed, "Lord, save me!"
That's "practically perfect in every way," as Mary Poppins would say.
It is short (the shortest in the entire Bible), to the point, and directed to the Lord Himself, who alone could take care of the problem.
Here's another one:
Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are His.
He changes times and seasons;
He sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise and
knowledge to the discerning.
He reveals deep and hidden things;
He knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with Him.
I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers:
You have given me wisdom and power,
You have made known to me what we asked of You,
You have made known to us the dream of the king.
Daniel and all the wise men of Babylon had been told if they couldn't, not just interpret, but actually relate Nebuchadnezzar's dream to him, they would be killed.
Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah [Shadrack, Meshak and Abednego].
He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. -- Daniel 2:17-19
What we learn from Daniel's grateful prayer - recorded in Daniel 2:20-23 (see above):
1. He starts with praise - passionate words giving glory to God for all He has done "for ever and ever."
For His wisdom and power, His control over nature, His control over mankind and its rulers.
2. Then he acknowledges that God gives wisdom and knowledge to His people, and He reveals deep and hidden things. God is not tight-fisted - He is generous and gracious.
3. Then Daniel gets personal and thanks God for giving him wisdom and power -- gifts that belong to God Himself. "Wisdom and power are His" Daniel had said at the beginning of the prayer.
4. Then Daniel gets specific: "You have made known to us what we asked of You, You have made known to us the dream of the king."
Daniel's heart is overflowing with praise and gratitude. He begins praising God for His great power and majesty, and His kindness. Then he thanks Him for answering his specific prayer.
From praising God for His universal sovereign greatness, and then thanking and praising Him for His goodness to Daniel personally.
That's why this is an example of a perfect prayer.
Note: I am amazed at how many times the words revealer, and reveal (or made known) occurs in Daniel 2. It's about 10 times in that chapter. And always God is the revealer.
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