“In those days, I Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks …”
“Then he said to me, ‘do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for 21 days …’”
“Then he said, ‘Do you understand why I came to you? …’”
Daniel 10:2, 12-13, 20
The time the angelic visitor was kept from getting to Daniel was the exact amount of time Daniel had spent crying out to God, praying and morning. I wonder if his question to Daniel “Do you understand why I came to you …” had in it a reference to the amount of time Daniel had spent praying? He came to deliver a vision to Daniel of the future, but did this question not only test whether Daniel understood the vision, but did it also point out the correspondence between the amount of time he prayed and the time it took for the answer to come? Was he pointing out to Daniel that his prayers were prompted by great spiritual battles, and that his praying was influencing the outcome?
Now Daniel was not praying about anything to do with regard to this spiritual battle. He had no idea such things were going on. He was praying for his people, and for understanding, and for humility. Nevertheless, the prayerful activity of God’s people, even when they are not directly praying about invisible spiritual events, can have a direct impact on such events.
Perhaps this visitor was saying “do you see that your prayers are working and that you’re having been prompted to pray was no random occurrence?” If this aspect was present in this question, then perhaps he is also saying, as he returns to battle, “keep praying Daniel!”
“Do you understand why I came to you?” Your prayers are being heard Daniel, they are having an affect on the outcome of the spiritual battle. Keep praying Daniel, the battle is not over. Keep praying saints for when this battle is over there will be another against the Prince of Greece. Keep praying church because the battle belongs to the Lord and we are his people. The war is not over, our prayers have an impact; they make a difference. Keep praying.
Lord, please help me to keep praying. Make me sensitive to your Spirit’s prompting and to pray. Help me pray long, hard, frequently, and with as much intensity as I am able. Help me to know that my praying matters and that it makes a difference. Help me to keep on praying. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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