Corona Devo 72

Daniel was a dutiful follower of God, even when it put his life in danger, and he was also an integral interpreter of dreams to a number of kings.  But I learned today that he also had a few visions/dreams of his own that encouraged and restored him.  I feel these verses can provide enlightenment and refreshment into our lives too.

Full disclosure here: I do not know very much or almost anything about angels.  But I do know that the Bible mentions them, and so they exist.  Daniel shares with us:

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 10:5-6

Oooo!  Does anyone else have the chills?  Can you imagine being visited by an angel?  Let's place ourselves next to Daniel.  I think I would react exactly as Daniel did:

My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. 9 Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.  ~Daniel 10:8-9.   Yep, I would have been out cold also.  Daniel had come out of the lion's den without a scratch (by God's grace), but this experience was even more powerful than a lion.  

10 Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. 11 And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God... ~Daniel 10:10-11

I know that some of us are weak with the whirlwind of what has occurred and what has stopped occurring in our lives over the Corona season.  Big chunks of our lives have fainted away.  It can make one weak.  

But please soak up the truth and love of what the angel tells Daniel.  He also says it to you and to me: "you are very precious to God".

Yes!  We are very precious to God.  We tend to forget that in the day to day and in the hum-drum, and possibly in the depression or anger or sadness.  But we are precious to God, and He has angels guarding us.  

11 ....so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.  ~Daniel 10:10-11

We are precious to God, and we must listen to His word, His promptings and His direction in our lives.  We can't just lay down in fear or even awe:  He has work for us to be doing, and we are no good to Him if we are crumpled up in a ball.

Daniel stood up in God's service, and we also need to answer that call as His sons and daughters.

Have you ever wondered if God is even listening?  He is.  12 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.  ~Daniel 10:12

Isn't that awesome?  The Lord speaks to us through His word, and He explains the questions in our hearts.  If this has ever been one that you asked or were afraid to: take comfort in knowing that the Lord hears our prayers.  (Note to self: Let's not miss the "posture" with which Daniel approaches God in prayer:  He prays for understanding and to humble himself before God.)

13 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. 14 Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”  ~Daniel 10:13-14

This is pretty much way over my Biblical knowledge or interpretation, but I can ascertain that a not-so-nice "spirit" or angel was "blocking the way" of the good "spirit" for 21 days, until Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me.

To give validity to the time we spend in prayer and the to the power of prayer, please note that earlier in this chapter of Daniel, he says that 2 When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks.  ~Daniel 10:2.  (I am interpreting "mourning" as serious/heavy prayer.)

And don't forget that for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way... said the good "spirit".  

My point here is that prayers and answers to prayer can take time (here it was 3 weeks), but in that time, the persistent prayer of a believer can be protecting us from things we do not see.  And can possibly be opening the door to a blessing tomorrow--if we do not give up.  

I do believe that there are spiritual battles going on around us.  Not because I am a spiritual conspiracy theorist.  But because the Bible tells me so: 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.  ~Ephesians 6:12

This isn't to scare us, or to get us off-track in our daily walk with Christ today, but I also think it is important to acknowledge that there is a battle going on for our moods, our marriages, and our parenting.  Satan does not want our marriages to succeed or our children to be taught and loved and grounded in the teachings of Christ.  We have to live each day fighting the battle for Christ!  And as Daniel exemplifies: prayer makes a difference in this battle!

Throughout the experience of seeing this vision, having it explained, and no-doubt realizing the magnitude of what has occurring:  Daniel was exhausted and weak.  But the Lord and his angels refresh us when we get to that state.  

18 Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. 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... ~Daniel 10:19

The Lord and His word/His love/and yes, even His angels strengthen us.  He will not leave us in our exhausted, depleted mood or place.  He touches us and we can feel our strength returning.

Can you feel it?  We are knee-deep in Corona, and for some of us this redundancy and isolation is way past our knees, it is up to our necks!  But God's word is for you and for me today:

19 “Don’t be afraid, for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!”  ~Daniel 10:19

I just love it.  The angel (messenger of God to Daniel and us) repeats for a second time that we are very precious to God.

And what other heavenly advice for our day today? Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!”  ~Daniel 10:19

I pray that we can be aware of unseen battles for our moods, marriages and parenting, etc. and also that we can be encouraged by a Biblical example of how powerful prayer is.  And also that in attacking today, we can absorb how precious we are to God and "suddenly feel stronger"... ~Daniel 10:19

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com/