In the Old Testament, the Book of Daniel, Chapter 10, Daniel, the prophet, fasted and received a disturbing vision. Note, any time we place the flesh under subjection and submission to the Holy Spirit, we’re primed to receive and have greater insight into his spiritual knowledge. Daniel saw a vision of war and great hardship for God’s people that would take place in the future. He had been in mourning three weeks, and didn’t eat any rich food, meat, or wine during that time, and he also withdrew from using customary fragrant lotions as well. Then, Daniel 10:4-6(NLT) says, “On April 23, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, 5 I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. 6 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.”
Daniel experienced God’s great favor because Daniel was committed to live a consecrated life. He lived under the rule and power of pagan kings who served pagan gods. They were full of idolatry, but Daniel did not turn his back on our Most Holy God. Daniel did as God instructs each of us in Romans 12:1, which is to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to Him, the kind of sacrifice that Heavenly Father will find holy and acceptable. We should turn our backs on anything that interferes with our relationship with God, and anything that keeps us from supernaturally receiving His divine revelation and prophetic information. Daniel understood how incredibly important it is to hear from God. He protected his relationship with Heavenly Father and refused to compromise it.
We live in complex and very dark times. The one thing that we can never lose is hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as God blessed Daniel while he was under the reign of the evil rulers, Heavenly Father will bless us as well. Many are praying for better or new jobs, a new home or car, and better relationships. Some are praying for improved mental, emotional, or physical help. The anchor of all of these blessings is obedience to God.
We must be humble before God for Him to bless us with His glory. To humble ourselves is to know that God has predestined us even before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). He has set a destiny before every believer, and our names are written in His Book of Truth. It’s not that we are walking around with our every move programmed, but we have a purpose within God’s plan, and sometimes we are on the wrong trajectory. We think we know everything, and begin to make very costly mistakes. 1Corinthians 1:25(NLT) tells us, “This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans.” Daniel knew that within God’s plan contained all the blessings and fulfillment of life. He also knew that when we step outside of God’s plan, we give the devil room to trample on our destinies and separate us from the blessings God has in store for us.
An angel came to Daniel with the divine information he had been praying to receive. The angel was such a vision that Daniel could hardly hold together his consciousness. He was overwhelmed by the glory of him. Daniel 10:12(NLT) tells us, “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.” This is what happens when we humble ourselves before God, He will bless us supernaturally and answer our prayers. Daniel 10:13 continues, “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.”
This powerful messenger angel gave Daniel a piece of information that is very consequential for us. It tells us of the spiritual warfare that is involved in the transfer of blessings from the spiritual realm into the natural realm where you and I live. God hears our prayers, and from the moment we pray our blessings are on the way to us, but we would be dangerously dismissive and imperceptive if we neglected the reality that we have an enemy that will try and block our blessings.
You see, it’s not that you aren’t going to be blessed with what you’ve asked to receive, but you have a responsibility to Christ to patiently endure in faith. The faith of Jesus Christ requires both patience and endurance. We live in a ‘want it right now’ society, but this is a sign of spiritual immaturity. You and I need to give the angels of our warfare strength through our faith, and we must also understand that our failure to ‘repent of our sins and sin no more’ can be a hindrance. Sin is a blocker, and we need to be aware of this. James 2:26 tells us that faith without good works is dead. We cannot deprive God of the living, holy and acceptable sacrifice that He has asked of us, and then expect there will be no spiritual implication because of this. Heavenly Father is the potter. We are the clay. We should not let the world, our desires, or anything else mold us. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, God will mold us into the vessel He desires us to be, and it will be beautifully crafted; pleasing to Him, and pleasing to us as well.
Daniel said in Daniel 10:15 that he was unable to speak or do anything for the shock of the angel’s presence. Then the angle touched his lips, and he regained the ability to speak. Daniel 10:19-21(NLT) records the angel saying, “19 Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.” 20 He replied, “Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece will come. 21 Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince.”
We can see very clearly that God’s blessings are delivered based on the laws that He has ordained to govern the world in which we live. There are details that we do not know, but require spiritual discipline on our parts. The thing that we must be convinced about is that our faith, our fully-persuaded and sold-out belief in the power of God through the Lord Jesus Christ is non-negotiable. We must have faith, and we must exercise with patience and endurance. Whenever we do this, like Daniel, we will witness God’s blessings in amazing ways. Our Heavenly Father always answers prayers. Trust that it’s on its way!
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
“It’s on Its Way!”, written by JMack. 4theChristianMan.Com© 2018. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.