“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.’” Daniel 10:12-13
Unanswered Prayer
Many times, we believers pray for requests that unbeknownst to us have already been granted and also for breakthrough, but to no avail. As I worshiped the Lord Sunday morning He showed me that there are many answers to prayers that have already been granted in heaven, however just like Daniel’s dilemma, principalities are blocking them from coming through the heavens. Ephesians 6:12 says, “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.”
Daniel was a man of prayer and fasting.
He had multiple visions over many years and many kings’ reigns. When he had these visions the angel Gabriel would come to explain them to him and give him understanding. As we read in chapter ten – the third year of king Cyrus rule, Daniel was again fasting and praying. The Bible doesn’t state why he was fasting on this particular occasion, only that he was in mourning. I believe that because Daniel was one to whom visions were given and who was entrusted with much of Heaven’s plans and purposes he was one that continually sought the Lord over the things shown him on behalf of his people Israel and the nations/kingdoms of the world.
Daniel had set his heart to seek the Lord in fasting and mourning for the things that had already been shown him over the years. At the end of the 21 days a revealed word and a vision was released to him. The Bible says the thing was “true” – sure or established, trustworthy, and that he understood both (Daniel 10:1). Soon after he had the vision the angel Gabriel came to him in answers to his prayers of mourning and to impart understanding concerning the word and the vision that came at the end of the fast.
Blocked by Principalities
However, the prince of Persia (an enemy principality) blocked (to stand in front of – from the combined Hebrew words: “‛âmad” to stand and “neged” front) Gabriel from bringing the answers to him though his request had been heard in heaven on the first day Daniel set his heart to seek the Lord.
Twenty-one days Daniel had been fasting when the word was finally revealed and the vision came and twenty-one days Gabriel had been averted by the spirit prince of Persia, of whom the vision was partly concerning. Had Daniel not continued in prayer and fasting the revealed word and the vision may have never come to him and Gabriel may have been even more delayed if not held back altogether from bringing the answers to him even though at other times Gabriel came without delay. The Bible doesn’t say why this time was different, but it does say that the information was valuable enough for the spirit prince to withstand him.
Breaking through
This begs the question – how then do we, today, bring to earth what is already done in Heaven (God’s throne) but is being blocked in the heavenly realm (where principalities dwell) by evil forces, knowing that when we set are our hearts and minds to seek the Lord over a matter of concern in Spirit and in Truth and pray according to His will He hears us and immediately grants our request (see 1 John5:14, 15)?
The Lord of the Armies of Heaven
I believe the answer is prayer and fasting – the kind that seeks God in humility and repentance, for His mercy, and for Him to take action. When we seek God in prayer and fasting, according to what He gives each one of us to do, the Lord of the Armies of Heaven will send forth His mighty angels to deal with the principalities that are blocking answered prayers that have already been heard in Heaven and released to us, but need to break through the heavenly realms.
Beloved, not all, but some breakthroughs will only come as we pray and fast, (Mark 9:29). If you have sought the Lord over a matter and you know and believe He has already granted you request, seek Him with fasting and prayer. It may not bring change right away but it will give the Lord the opportunity as with Daniel, to send you understanding of what is going on and share the appointed time for things to come so you can rest in Him, or it may be that the things change immediately.
Blessings and breakthroughs be unto you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Krista: follower of Christ
P.S. As you can see this devotional is not in video format. I thought this was so meaty it deserved to be written out. I hope you enjoy and pass it along to others to be blessed.
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