In Daniel 9 we see that Israel have been held captive for 70 years by the Babylonians.  Daniel understands that the scriptures say that they will be held captive for 70 years, and upon realising that the 70 years is complete what does Daniel do?  Daniel sits down and does nothing - after all it has been prophesied so there’s nothing left to do, right?  God is going to do what he is going to do..?  Not Daniel, he prays for most of Daniel 9, and then Gabriel gives him a message and a vision, so he intercedes for 3 weeks (and mourns, fasts and doesn’t use any deoderant - poor Mrs Daniel), and then this happens - Especially check out verse 12 and 13:

DA 10:2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

DA 10:4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, 5 I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. 6 His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

DA 10:7 I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. 8 So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. 9 Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.

DA 10:10 A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

DA 10:12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”

DA 10:15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless. 16 Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I am helpless. 17 How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”

DA 10:18 Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. 19 “Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”

DA 10:20 So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; 21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince).

The angel then goes on to give revelation about an earlier vision and info about the future. It’s a great example of prayer - there’s a war going on! The angel, assisted by Michael fights for 21 days to get through to Daniel, delivers a message and then moves on to fight against the prince of Persia. Do I pray for an issue for 21 days? Do I pray until I see the Kingdom break through enemy lines?  If God sent a messenger the moment I prayed would I persevere in prayer to enable the messenger to break through?

Last night I was asking God to help me see my enemy.  It would be really useful to see the enemy that I have to fight - not just the effects of the enemy, such as sickness or evil.  A lack of feedback or enemy can be demotivating - if there was some way of seeing that my prayers are powerful it wouldn’t be harder to pray for longer. Daniel in chapter 9 is sure that his prayers are heard, he continues to pray, in faith awaiting an answer. It is important that we believe that every prayer advances the kingdom in some way!

Related posts
Prayer and War II: You don’t need to pursuade God!
Does God ever withhold healing?
A Simple Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer: …and lead us not into temptation
So just who is in charge?