Daniel_10

Scripture

Daniel 10:12

Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

Observation - What does it say?

After having a troubling vision that he didn’t understand, Daniel humbled himself before God and spent three weeks mourning and seeking God for understanding. At the end of the three weeks his answer came via a messenger from God. This messenger explains that as soon as Daniel began to seek God, he was sent in response. But, he encountered opposition by an evil spiritual power he refers to as “the prince of the Persian kingdom,” delaying him 21 days.

Understanding - What does it mean?

This is a fascinating chapter, and I probably have more questions than answers after reading it. However, this one thing stood out to me: Daniel’s prayers were heard and his answer was sent immediately, although he had to wait 21 days before it arrived.

Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 7 to “Keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking.”

I wonder how many times we pray about something and lose all faith when we don’t see an answer within 24 hours. The "keeping on" is the achilles heel of our prayer life. There are things going on in the spiritual realm we have no idea about. I imagine many times we fail to “keep on knocking,” giving up and walking away when God’s hand is reaching for the handle on the other side, to open the door. Daniel teaches us in this passage to continue seeking without giving up.

Life Application

Keep seeking! For the people I’ve been praying for to come to know Christ, for breakthrough in relationships and in our community, for a powerful move of God in our city.

God, I believe that you hear our prayers and the moment we speak out our prayers the answer is set in motion! I trust that even when I don’t see much happening in the natural, there are things in the spirit that are shifting, angels engaging in battle, hearts being prepared and people being positioned. I believe you meant it when you repeated the promise 7 times, “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Fill us with faith and grant that we may be ones who persevere in prayer. Amen.

- Levi Thompson