Have you ever questioned if God hears your prayers? Oh honey, he hears you.

But if he hears you, why isn’t he answering you? That’s a tough question. We often misunderstand the answers. There’s more than just yes, there’s also not yet, and no because I have something better for you. Now, today, we’re going to read about an experience Daniel had with an angel. Maybe this is a story you’ve never even heard, I know I certainly hadn’t. God wants us to hear this now so we can understand there’s more happening than what we can see, and we play a role in the outcome!

To set the stage, remember Daniel was a man of God who had visions and could interrupt dreams. With faith, he had survived the lion’s den as angels had shown up and sealed the lion’s mouths to protect him. Now, in Daniel chapter 10, he has had a vision that he could not understand and it was disturbing to him, so he he’s prayed to God for 3 weeks for understanding.

Now, after 3 weeks, this is what happens, verse 4-14:

On April 23, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people.

Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.

Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.

Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”

Here’s what we need to know … what is happening behind the scenes in the spiritual realm is a full on battle! Behind every scene, the angels and demons are fighting. The demons are fighting to delay you, distract you, discourage you, overwhelm you, depress you, and destroy you. All the time. Every time. But God’s angels are battling them to protect you, deliver you, encourage you, strengthen you and move you forward.

It. Is. Real.

You can’t see it, but it is constantly happening. Paul knew that for sure and he wrote in Ephesians 6:12, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

This angel, who looks like a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist and a body that looked like a precious gem with eyes that flamed like torches and a voice that roared has been in battle for Daniel. The battle was over the answer to his prayer.

Do you understand there’s a battle happening in the heavenly realms over the answer to your prayer? I don’t think we get that.

The angel reveals in verses 12-13, “Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for 21 days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way.”

Do you remember how long Daniel had been praying? FOR THREE WEEKS! TWENTY-ONE DAYS! While Daniel prayed, the angel fought to deliver his answer.

Are there delays in the spiritual realm? Clearly, this is an example.

So, that leaves me to wonder … were you praying specifically for something, but then you gave up? What if you gave up while the angels were battling for you and the day you quit praying was the day God called the angels back and said, “She’s just not asking anymore.”

How much angelic assistance have I forfeited because I failed to be consistent in prayer? Here’s what I’m learning: PRAYER REALLY MATTERS! An angel was dispatched because of Daniel’s prayers. For every day he continued to pray, that angel continued to battle the demon sent to block him.

Jesus refers to Satan as the “Prince of this world” 3 times in the book of John. These spirit princes being revealed to Daniel are Satan’s demons, his battle buddies, his soldiers of evil. They are the evil spirits battling God’s angels, trying to block God’s answers, God’s blessings, God’s breakthroughs and God’s works. But what we see here is as long as we pray, the angels will not quit fighting for you.

There’s a delay here … your job is to keep praying!

This angel tells Daniel that Michael, one of the archangels, came to help him fight. Do you know about the Archangel Michael?!!!! He is a spiritual warrior who is a champion for justice and protector of God’s Church. He is often shown with a sword, defeating Satan himself. In Venice, my favorite Church is one in a back alley where tourists rarely go. It’s called The Church of Santa Maria Assunta, built in 1715. Inside, is a massive stone sculpture of the Archangel Michael defeating Satan himself. Beneath his feet, the prince of the world is defeated.

Y’all, that’s what our angels are doing for us! It’s real. It’s happening. There’s a battle, and the battle is often over your prayers. Don’t stop praying now!

Why is there a delay in your answer? Well maybe there’s a battle happening for you! Maybe God has sent your answer the moment you began to pray, but the journey to you has been a fight.

Here’s what you need to know … God says you’re worth fighting for. 2 Chronicles 20: 15-17, “This battle is not yours, but God’s. You will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you.” Deuteronomy 20:4, “For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!”

In Exodus, we read of Moses leading the Israelites in a battle against their enemies. Chapter 17, verse 11 says, “As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained advantage.” What was Moses doing with his arm lifted up holding this staff? He was praying. He was seeking God. Verse 12, “Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset.” As a result, there was victory!

I don’t know how long you’ve been praying and waiting, but maybe your arms have grown really tired. Maybe you just don’t know how to keep praying. This is why it’s so important to have the right people around you who know about your battle. My sister, who’s praying for you? Who’s holding your hands up when you are tired?

Now is NOT the time to quit praying. There’s a battle happening in the spiritual real and your angels will not stop fighting as long as you’re praying. They are not giving up on you, now don’t you give up on them.

God has a victory here for you and for your family. Keep your hands lifted in prayer and praise. If you’ve grown weary, as we all do, it’s time to ask someone to hold your hands steady for you.

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