每逢週四傍晚，怡敏與家豪坐進車裡，就有這樣的對話。家豪問：「妳想去哪裡吃？」怡敏說：「隨便，哪裡都好，我沒意見！」家豪知道她總是這樣說，就建議：「去風車餐館好嗎？」怡敏生氣地說：「哪裡都好，就是不要去那裡！」家豪嘆了口氣：「那妳要去哪裡？」怡敏卻堅持：「真的，哪裡都好！」

這像極了常見的喜劇橋段，旁觀的時候會覺得好笑，因為我們都知道，如果自己是家豪會有多氣惱。

有時候，我們的禱告也是如此，太過含糊籠統。相反地，在但以理書9章，我們看到但以理勇敢清楚地告訴上帝他的請求。首先，他承認百姓的罪：「我們犯罪作孽」（5節），接著他請求：「我們的上帝啊，現在求祢垂聽僕人的祈禱懇求」（17節），「求主垂聽，求主赦免，求主應允而行」（19節）。上帝並不虧欠但以理，但以理是因相信上帝有「大憐憫」（18節），就將心中渴望完全告訴上帝。

耶穌受難前向天父禱告：「不要照我的意思，只要照祢的意思」（馬太福音26章39節）。這確實是禱告應有的心態，但有時我們仍可以明確表達自己的心願。當我們帶著悔改的心來到上帝面前，祂會尊重我們的坦誠。所以，只管勇敢按著心裡所想的祈求，將一切交給這位滿有憐憫的上帝。

Brenda and Eddie got in the car and began their Thursday evening ritual. “Where would you like to eat?” “Oh, Eddie, I don’t care, anywhere is fine, really.” Eddie’s been here before. “Okay, how about The Windmill?” Brenda bristles. “No, anywhere but there!” Eddie sighs. “So where, then?” Brenda insists, “Really, anywhere is fine.”

It’s the stuff of comedy sketches, humorous from a distance because we know how maddening it is in the moment.

Sometimes it can be that way in our prayer lives too. We’re too vague. In contrast, the prayer in Daniel 9 reveals Daniel boldly saying what he wants. First, he confesses the sins of his people: “We have sinned and done wrong” (v. 5). Then he makes his requests. “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant” (v. 17). “Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act” (v. 19). God owed nothing to Daniel, but such was Daniel’s trust in God’s “great mercy” (v. 18) that he felt free to bring the full weight of his desires to Him.

It’s always right to pray “not as I will, but as you will,” as Jesus prayed to His Father the night before He was crucified (Matthew 26:39). But there are also times when saying what we want is the way forward. God honors our boldness when we come before Him with repentant hearts. So be bold, pray what’s on your heart, and entrust it to the God of great mercy.