BEING HIGHLY ESTEEMED

Daniel 9:23

As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.
Everyone wants to be highly esteemed irrespective of their financial or educational status, human beings have a need to be highly esteemed. Maslow defines the need for Esteem as one of the basic needs of a human being in his model of hierarchy of needs. A man may even go without food or give up his life if someone fails to give him due respect.
If that is a need for us on this earthly life. Why don’t we seek for it in our eternal life. Should we not want heaven to highly esteem us?Why are we satisfied being paupers and beggars in our spiritual life. Why do we always want someone to pray for us and recommend us to our own heavenly Father for meeting our needs.
The word of God says that God knows our need even before we say a word ( Matthew 6:8). Even when God knows are need it is entirely another aspect that he will answer our need. It is interesting to note in this verse ( Daniel 9:23) that as for Daniel the moment he began to pray answers is given, the word is sent out, the action begins in the throne, angels start flying out. Angels were crossing continents and things begin to happen like a domino effect. Though at times it took 21 days to reach him, Angels knew that his requests were valued in heaven.

Daniel was a man worked under 5 kings. His word was not too valued. Because we see he could not get his friends out of a fiery furnace ( Daniel 3:16 – 28), he couldn’t even keep his original name ( Daniel 1:7), he needed to be introduced to King Belteshazzar by his mom as a man off wisdom who served his father ( Daniel 5:11). He was like most other slaves but he had who had a lot of working responsibilities in a high position but still very much in captivity.
Even though he was not highly esteemed in the world his words were very highly esteemed in the courts of heaven. What made him so highly esteemed. One of the reasons we will explore today is his Spiritual Discipline. He valued his time and commitment to God more important than his life itself. He was not worried about any other rule, law or King, authority. To him his commitment to God was the deciding factor of every decision. He did not have the Bible or Torah to help him or guide his decisions. It was only what he purposed in his heart that he will do for God.
Even in our lives in the end what your commitment to God is matters more than anything. Each church might have different set of rules, each denomination will have a different set of do’s and dont’s. Each Spiritual leader might say that only if you have a membership in their group you can make it to heaven. But only your direct commitment to God and your relationship matters most.
Today what is your commitment to God. Daniel decided not to touch the Kings food and delicacy ( Daniel 1:8). He did not eat meat. What is yours? He prayed three times a day what is yours? ( Daniel 6:10,11) Daniel fasted 21 days what is your commitment to fast and pray (Daniel 10:2).
The second thing that made him highly esteemed was he was not in a relationship with God for personal gains. He was having a relationship filled with gratitude and worship ( Daniel 6:10). His relationship was filled with humility and awe. His postures of prayer show that( Daniel 9:3). He considered the words spoken to him precious that he wanted to keep it written ( Daniel 7:1). He also prayed for others, he prayed that God would forgive the sins of others ( Daniel 9:3 – 6). He was not there to complain about others or his own situation or problem. He was only mindful of the burden that was in God’s. heart. He was worried about the deliverance of Israel. As for him he was in a good position, a top job, he could have gone on with his life and not bothered about the situation in Jerusalem that was in ruins. He was a man who carried the burden of God in his heart.
He was very different from King David, his way of praying is so different, his lifestyle was different but God loves each one individually, differently and passionately. That’s why we can never judge anyone until the end of time. We really don’t know their relationship and commitment with God.

What are some of the things that a man who is Highly esteemed by God receives.
1. He received Supernatural Protection
The kind of protection he received at the Lions den breaks all natural laws. ( Daniel 6: 22) In the natural lions attack and hungry lions in captivity devour but these Lions could not do what they normally do because here is a man who is unafraid of any human laws. He is under supernatural protection because of his commitment to God. He follows his commitment to pray to the creator of the universe and in turn the one He prays offers him Supernatural Protection.
2. His words get immediate Supernatural attention.
Whenever Daniel knelt to pray. Heavens stopped in Silence. Angels knew his prayer was valued and how ever busy they were, immediate action will be taken ( Daniel 9:23). His word received immediate responses. There were Angels dispatched across continents to bring him answers.
Many times we don’t even pray because we doubt if our prayer is heard or if it will ever be answered. But here is a key secret we can all learn to get our prayers answered immediately. If we keep our spiritual discipline and we meet God at set times of the day and if no King can ever stop us from keeping our appointment with God then we can be assured that God will answer.
The reason we go to prophets and other men of God to pray is because we thing they are highly esteemed by God and God will probably answer them faster than us. But Daniel had no Spiritual background or he was not a Levite or Priest. He was simply a man who valued his relationship with God and that made him receive his answers.
A king for us can be our tired body, our family members needing our attention or travel or something that can stop us from praying. But if we keep our time with God and fulfil what we commit before God in terms of spending time with him. For will give us the undivided attention that we look for.
Angels knew that God will respond to Daniel. King Darius knew God will save Daniel ( Daniel 6:20). We having confidence in God is one thing. Others having the confidence that God will do something on our behalf for sure is a whole different level of showing the kind of relationship that we are enjoying with God.
3. He received Supernatural Revelation that had global consequences for generations.
Whenever God revealed something to Daniel, it was not who was keeping witchcraft against him or about the people who were troubling him or about a wife he will get. Daniel was receiving revelations for the future and things that will have eternal consequences ( Daniel 8,9,10,12). He was talking to him about heavenly visions, future Kingdoms and eternal life. His visions were vividly clear and precise on par with John’s visions in the book of revelation and had such details that many scholars who study the Apocalypse and end of times cannot miss his writings.
Even if no one values your words on this Earth if you are a person of no consequence it is ok. But you can be someone who is highly esteemed by God the creator of the Universe. His acceptance and approval is more valuable and you can earn it just by keeping your commitment in your relationship with him. He is not looking at your financial background or your physical appearance to highly esteem you. He is only looking at how much you value his relationship and keep the time with him. So what are you waiting for start making a plan to keep your commitment with God. You don’t have to copy any one’s routine. Some might have the grace to pray 7 hours a day, fast 40 days. You don’t have to do the same. Even if you want to give 10 mins a day keep that time no matter what and that’s what matters.
May you be Highly Esteemed of Him

In His Service
Jemimah Amirtharaj