Devotional - Rachel Gaugler
11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.” Daniel 10:11-14 (ESV)
This season has been one of unexpected joy, but it’s also been one of disappointment. As more questions go unanswered and exhaustion slowly creeps in, worry has often robbed me of peace. In the past few days, as I’ve craved rest and contentment, I remembered this passage from Daniel that I had read earlier in quarantine.
In this story, Daniel exhibits an incredible example of effectual prayer. He commits himself to three weeks of self-denial (10:2) as he earnestly seeks understanding. When an angel appears to him, he tells Daniel that from the very first day, Daniel’s words were heard, but for 21 days, the angel had been delayed—21 days that Daniel had been praying. It is interesting to think of the consequences if Daniel had simply given up on the 10th, 14th, 20th day of praying. But, because Daniel was faithful in prayer, God was faithful in response.
Though our lack of understanding can feel exhausting, our response should always be to pray. God is both infinitely powerful and gracious to use our words to fulfill His purpose. Daniel prayed expectantly. He prayed as James calls us to — “in faith, with no doubting” (James 1:6). The reason why we can do that is because the God who parted the Red Sea and led mighty kings into battle craves a deeply intimate relationship with you and me. Do we truly understand the significance of having a relationship with the Father — a relationship that gives us full assurance that we are beloved by the God of promises? Are we living every day knowing that, by His grace, we, as believers, have access to communion with the Triune God? Prayer is a gift the Lord has given to us to talk with Him. He desires to hear our words—and not only that, but use them to fulfill His plan for our good. So let’s be challenged to lead prayerful lifestyles, fully convinced that the very God who dispatched an angel because of one man’s prayer is the same God we can feel free to talk to. And even when our hopes do not reflect our reality, let us never give up on the 20th day, for we don’t know the blessings that could come with just one more day of prayer.
“There may be hindering factors of which a praying Christian knows nothing as he wonders why the answers to his requests are delayed. Nevertheless, he is to keep on praying. It may be that he will not receive an answer because he has given up on the 20th day.” - Rev. Paul S. Gould