Prayers have Power

Daniel 10:1–2 (ESV) In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks.

After the vision of Daniel 9 in which God's timeline for Jerusalem's troublesome restoration was revealed to Daniel, you can understand how Daniel 10 opens. The prophet is mournful, saddened by the fact that Israel's return would be so rife with problems. The third year of Cyrus would have been Daniel's 85th year of life, and the first waves of exiles would have been returning amidst the brutal uphill battle to restore their ancient city. Ezra 4 tells us that the work faced accusations of sedition, and perhaps Daniel feared what eventually happened - the cessation of all activity relevant to the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 

Would God's promises fail? Would the governmental powers have the final say? Would Daniel only live long enough to see evil win?

Some of us can relate in our modern age. But Daniel 10 provides great comfort. The first thing we should set our minds to do is what Daniel did: He humbled himself.

Daniel 10:3 (ESV) I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.

 

The world loves to distract God's people from the kingdom's priorities. Fine food and living are sometimes the very tools used to divert our attention from the spiritual battle we need to be fighting. In Daniel 10, the prophet returns to simple humility, seeking what God might have in mind in a world filled with boastful, arrogant noise. 

In this low place, Daniel experiences supernatural exaltation.

Daniel 10:4–7 (ESV) On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) 5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves.

The vision was for Daniel, and no one else saw it, which overwhelmed him. It is in this posture that events behind the curtain of this atmosphere are revealed to him.

Daniel 10:10–11 (ESV) And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 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.

What does Daniel learn? That the battle is real, and sometimes delay is due to the strength of spiritual strongholds over cities and regions. 

Daniel 10:12–14 (ESV) 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.”

Remember the word from verse 1 about this moment, "it was great conflict". There is war in the heavenlies, and angels are battling. When we pray and seek God, our words put angels on assignment. Listen again to the angel's testimony: "your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. "

But here's the important thing. Daniel is encouraged to keep praying even harder as the heavenly host has few to help.

Daniel 10:20–21 (ESV) Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. 21 But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.

We need our eyes opened to this great struggle that surrounds us, so that we may send words to our Father, who hears and assigns angels accordingly to fight. If you're in a battle and see the world winning, humble yourself and pray. You CAN effect change in the power of the Holy Spirit.