I used to think when my prayers were not answered right away, that God was saying no.
That’s not correct.
God does answer prayers in His timing. The process can be immediate or take a long time. Sometimes, the answer if no, that is not right for you, I have a better plan for you. When you trust God, you have to trust the process.
Keep up your faith and keep praying.
Today, I read Daniel chapter 10. A few things struck me. Daniel fasted and prayed for 3 weeks before Daniel saw a vision of a messenger, who was so powerful his friends ran away terrified, even though they didn’t see the vision. Daniel lost all his strength and breath as the vision of the man spoke to him, until the man touched Daniel. The man said that Daniel was cherished by God and his prayer request was heard in heaven. For 21 days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked his way, until Michael, one of the archangels, came to help him, so he could go to Daniel.
There are spiritual battles being fought in the heavenly realms for us.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
—Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
Know that when you pray, God hears you. God may be fighting for you in heavenly realms. God is not giving up on you, so don’t give up on your faith and trust in Him. The enemy wants you to give up and feel hopeless. God is sending his angels to fight for you. God wants to give you strength and hope. God sees you as His precious child.
Keep praying to your Father in Heaven. God may be fighting a battle for you right now.
Daniel’s Vision of a Messenger
In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship.
When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed.
On April 23, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. 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.
Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. 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.
Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, 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.
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. 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.”
While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word. Then the one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, “I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak. How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.”
Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. “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.”
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. 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.
—Daniel 10 (NLT)
Embrace This Beautiful Life 