Susie

Hey, Girls in the Sisterhood!

Let's chat some more about prayer.

There's something really awesome I want you

to think about.

It's found in Daniel chapter 10.

This is way after the lion's den escapade.

And after his three best friends

were thrown into the fiery furnace.

The book of Daniel is almost finished

at this point—just two more chapters.

But in chapter 10:4, we see Daniel beginning

to pray and fast for his people in Jerusalem.

You see, Daniel had been taken captive

several years before and is living in Persia.

(That's modern-day Iran.)

But his homeland is Jerusalem. And he's deeply

burdened for his friends and family back home.

Some of you have experienced such a burden,

haven't you? Your heart sometimes breaks for

your loved ones that you want to help.

We're told in the Book of Ezra (1:1) that King

Cyrus gave permission for all the captives to

leave and go back to their homes.

So why is Daniel still in Persia?

Why hasn't he left and gone back home?

Why is he still in a heathen court?

Hmmm.

Must be because God has made it crystal-clear

to him that there's still a job for Daniel to do.

So Daniel remains faithful to God and stays in

this heathen land.

But we see in verse 4 that he's praying fervently

for his people in Jerusalem.

He's been fasting for more than three weeks.

He's eaten very little food—probably rice and

some bread and juice to sustain him—and the scripture

says, "I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over."

In other words, probably no cologne, no nice soaps,

no hair gel. None of the extras. This shows me Daniel's

attitude: "It's not about me. How I look right now isn't

important. What IS important is that I lift my people

in prayer."

What commitment, huh?!

And THEN through the rest of the chapter we get to

eavesdrop on a conversation Daniel has with an angel!

And I love the message this angel gives him.

"Daniel, I know you've been praying for 24 days now.

Maybe you thought your prayers hadn't gotten through.

But actually, as soon as you uttered the first word

on the first day of your prayer and fast vigil, your prayer

got God's attention. It didn't take 24 days to get through,

Daniel. He heard it immediately."

Cool, huh?

Sometimes we think it takes forever for God to hear

our prayers. But He actually hears them as soon as we pray!

OK.

But it gets even more exciting!

The angel tells Daniel that at the very moment

he first began this prayer vigil, his prayer reached

God and God dispatched this very angel

to give Daniel an important message.

Really?

If God dispatched the angel

as soon as Daniel prayed,

why has nothing happened for 24 days?

Sheesh!

That's a long time to keep praying, huh?

If you'll keep eavesdropping on the conversation,

you'll discover the answer.

"Daniel, I was SENT HERE TO YOU as soon

as you prayed. God didn't delay. But wow,

Daniel, you don't have a clue what's going

on in the heavenlies!

"I was on my way to you so I could give

you God's response, and suddenly I got

caught up in a fierce battle with the demon

who hovers over the whole country of Persia!

"Daniel! It was such intense spiritual warfare

that God had to dispatch the angel Michael to

come relieve me from the fight so I could get

here to you!"

The rest of the book of Daniel (chapters 11-12)

is the message from God about things that will

take place in the end times.

But . . . did you get it?

Sometimes we wonder why God hasn't answered

us yet . . . but we have no clue how much spiritual

warfare is happening on our behalf.

Daniel had no idea that God had already dispatched

an angel on his behalf, but he continued to faithfully pray.

What if he'd stopped praying?

I think the angel would have simply continued his battle.

But because of Daniel's ferventness in prayer . . .

because he kept praying and praying and praying,

God intervened again and dispatched Michael

to intervene in the spiritual battle so Daniel

could get the message God wanted him to have!

Don't grow weary in praying.

God always answers your prayers.

Not always in your timing.

Not always the way you want Him to.

But your prayers are always answered.

We simply have no clue what's really

happening in the heavenlies.

I love you, Girls!

Susie Shellenberger