Warriors

Prayer Focus: Netherlands, Neth Antilles

Scripture Bible Reading: Daniel 10-12

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.13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come."  (Daniel 10:12-14)

Observation

Cyrus, King of Persia had given the Jews permission to leave and return to their homeland.  Daniel stayed.  He was in a place where he could intercede for those who stayed behind.  He was near the hub of what was happening for the people and in a unique position to petition God for them.

When chapter 10 opens it describes Daniel praying and fasting for the people.  God heard his voice in heaven and dispatches an angel to tell him “what will happen to your people in the future”.

I won’t pretend to understand the visions and portents that the angel gives Daniel, and he records.  I don’t have the wisdom to interpret those things.  They make for a fascinating study, and I encourage you to read them for yourself and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you about it.  But here is what I see as very plain: Daniel was a prayer warrior.  In response to the turmoil of the time and the shifting power bases that threatened his people, God dispatches a warrior angel who fights spiritual battles on their behalf and willingly shares with Daniel not only a peek into the future but also speaks plainly about the battles waged behind the temporal curtain on their behalf!

Application

It’s so easy for us to sit on the sidelines of events and bemoan that we are only one person, that we can’t change the world and we are insignificant.  The temptation is to take a fatalistic attitude and let apathy win.

When righteous people pray, God hears.  (Pr.15:29, 1^st Peter 3:12, Ps. 34:17, James 5:16)

When He hears us, he DOES something about it.

Suddenly, our prayer life takes on new meaning.  We become active players on a battlefield; deploying angels to battle, defending the people from harm or from the spiritual battle that hides behind the physical one.

Whatever the situation you are in, you have the opportunity to turn from selfish ways, and humbly seek God’s wisdom and power.  When you do, this makes you a Prayer Warrior.

Prayer

I come to you, Lord, humbly asking for you to reveal yourself to those who seek you.  Help them cast off the sinful desires and temptations that lead to apathy of the soul.  Empower them to see the spiritual battle that wages for their time, attention, and allegiances.  Help them see the part they have in your story.  Give them courage to seek you and join the battle.  Amen!