The triumph of prayer (4)

"In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, one thing was revealed to Daniel who is called by the name of Belteshazzar ; And the thing is true, but the determined time is long. And he understood it, and had understanding of the vision. Daniel 10. 1

For three weeks, with prayer and fasting, Daniel had sought to understand what oppressed his heart, but did not get answers to his questions (Dan 10:12). The angel now reveals to Daniel the true dimension of the fight that the prophet had delivered. On the very day that Daniel had undertaken his fast, the Lord by his angel had come to reveal to him what would happen to the Jewish people until the time of the end. But spiritual forces of wickedness had resisted him. A conflict had broken out between the powers of good and evil in the invisible world. The angel had emerged victorious.

The stakes in difficult situations often exceed us completely; But let us be assured that the Lord comes to our aid from the first day when we begin to grieve sincerely before Him. And if we do not see our way, let us be sure that the One who guides us, sees it from beginning to end.

Daniel is still looking towards the earth, not yet daring to raise his eyes to him who speaks to him. Standing but lacking breath, he becomes mute. The angel then touches his lips and continues to speak to him. On hearing this, Daniel regains strength and regains his breath : "May my lord speak, for you have fortified me," he said (v. 19). Daniel receives an ultimate revelation: the forces of evil will not completely destroy the people of God, despite wars and persecutions until the time of the end (Dan. 11 and 12).

Like Daniel, we can find ourselves alone with our anxieties and questions, abandoned by companions, even let down by believers. Let us remember that opposition to the work of God comes only from "the spiritual power of wickedness" (Ephesians 6: 12), and it is against it that the struggle takes place. Above the scene of this world, a spiritual struggle is taking place, the intensity of which escapes us, but the stake is evident. By means of the human being, the devil and his agents do everything to destroy the work of God in the hearts of men. If we are aware of the nature of these battles in the invisible world, we will equip ourselves accordingly to resist and stand firm (Ephesians 6:13).

Source (To pleasing the Lord)