You pray. You fast. You believe God. With is very similar to what Muslims do. Your prayer seemingly goes unanswered. It may even feel like it may have hit a brick wall. Despite your best efforts, nothing happens. There is no manna. There is no answer. There is only silence. For many of us, this is the story of our lives. However, it is not where the story has to end.
In those days, I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks. I didn’t eat any rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth and I didn’t put any oil on my body until the tree weeks were over. On the 24th day, I saw a man dressed in linen, with a belt of gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face like the brilliance of lightning…He said to me “Daniel you are a man treasured by God…from the first day your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers.” – Daniel 10: 2-12
Daniel had been fasting and praying for twenty-one days. He did not hear anything from heaven during that time. He may have felt rejected. He may have even felt alone. One thing we know is that regardless of how he felt, his actions told a different story. Daniel did not stop praying. He continued to fast. Why? He fully expected God to hear his prayers and respond accordingly. The bible indicates that Daniel was exhausted from fasting and prayer. It also says that he did not stop until a representative from Heaven paid him a visit. Notice the first words spoken by the angel: Daniel, you are treasured by God. The angel goes on to explain that Daniel’s prayers reached God’s ears the moment he released them. How about that?
God hears our prayers the moment we release them to Him. As a result, He sets things in motion the moment we ask Him too. Just because the answer to our prayer is delayed does not mean God is denying us. In the account of Daniel, the bible tells us that the answer to Daniel’s prayer was delayed because the adversary opposed the angel delaying him for twenty-one days.
In life, there are many delays we will experience. Whether it is a delay in being healed or a delay in finding employment, there is little we can do to prevent delays. However, what we do while we’re waiting for delays to become deliveries can make all the difference.
Daniel continued to fast and pray about his vision. He was diligent and consistent. Some of us tend to give up too quickly. We release a prayer on Monday, only to declare by Friday that God wasn’t listening. We’re so busy waiting for God to speak that we often don’t realize that He wants us to move—to do something. In order to have something we have never had, we have to do something we’ve never done
In those days, I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks. I didn’t eat any rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth and I didn’t put any oil on my body until the tree weeks were over. On the 24th day, I saw a man dressed in linen, with a belt of gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face like the brilliance of lightning…He said to me “Daniel you are a man treasured by God…from the first day your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers.” – Daniel 10: 2-12
Daniel had been fasting and praying for twenty-one days. He did not hear anything from heaven during that time. He may have felt rejected. He may have even felt alone. One thing we know is that regardless of how he felt, his actions told a different story. Daniel did not stop praying. He continued to fast. Why? He fully expected God to hear his prayers and respond accordingly. The bible indicates that Daniel was exhausted from fasting and prayer. It also says that he did not stop until a representative from Heaven paid him a visit. Notice the first words spoken by the angel: Daniel, you are treasured by God. The angel goes on to explain that Daniel’s prayers reached God’s ears the moment he released them. How about that?
God hears our prayers the moment we release them to Him. As a result, He sets things in motion the moment we ask Him too. Just because the answer to our prayer is delayed does not mean God is denying us. In the account of Daniel, the bible tells us that the answer to Daniel’s prayer was delayed because the adversary opposed the angel delaying him for twenty-one days.
In life, there are many delays we will experience. Whether it is a delay in being healed or a delay in finding employment, there is little we can do to prevent delays. However, what we do while we’re waiting for delays to become deliveries can make all the difference.
Daniel continued to fast and pray about his vision. He was diligent and consistent. Some of us tend to give up too quickly. We release a prayer on Monday, only to declare by Friday that God wasn’t listening. We’re so busy waiting for God to speak that we often don’t realize that He wants us to move—to do something. In order to have something we have never had, we have to do something we’ve never done
©2010-2013 Minister Claretta Taylor Pam, Global Ecumenical Ministries Inc. and Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts. All Rights Reserved
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