As I was going through the book of Daniel the other day, I came across a episode that did not stand out to me in the past. It is in Daniel 10. Daniel had been in mourning for 3 weeks, fasting and praying when an angel came to him in a vision. Beginning in verse 12 the angel tells him:
“Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humble yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 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” Daniel 10:12-13
God gives us a glimpse of the extent of the war going on in the spiritual world and how we are involved in it. This war is just as real as the ones we have been fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. And just like those wars we need to prepare ourselves by training and equipping ourselves for the battles. Daniel provides the example for us. God hears our prayers and will answer them, but Satan will do what he can to prevent us from receiving those answers. What we have to understand is the Satan’s demons cannot stop the messenger, but if we are not prepared we can put ourselves in a position to not receive it. Daniel studied God’s word, prayed constantly, and kept himself humble to the Lord. He wore the armor of God that Paul talked about in Ephesians 6.
Anyone that has been combat would not dream of going without all their protective equipment and weapons so why would we go to spiritual battles without it? Find strength in truth, walk in the righteousness of God, practice the gospel of peace, shield yourself with faith in the Lord, wear His gift of salvation, and arm yourself with the Word of God. This war is real and we cannot avoid it so be prepared.
