I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. (Daniel 9:2, 3 NIV, 10-3-2012)

Daniel knew from God’s word what was going to happen, so he prayed fervently.

I have things I hope will happen–and want passionately to happen– so I pray passively. Then go play video games.

And when the stress increases, instead of retreating to God in prayer, I retreat to other worlds and anything else to distract me.

Something is very wrong with this picture.

[Father, help me to move past writing little prayers to praying passionately.]