LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Prayer
"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days…" (Daniel 10:13, KJV).
God does not hear sinners, but He has pleasure in the prayer of the saints. "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight" (Prov. 15:8). God has pleasure in the prayer of the righteous, for it is made by the Spirit that dwells in us (Rom. 8:26-27).
Every prayer of the righteous is heard by God. However, what we need to understand from the beginning is that God has his set time to answer it (Eccl. 3:1). Second, there is often resistance on the part of the enemy of our souls so that we do not receive the answer.
In the text with which we began this meditation, Daniel had a prayer before God and the answer came after twenty-one days because there was much resistance. "Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia" (Dan. 10:12-13).
Jesus teaches us about the need to pray always and not faint. "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily" (Luke 18:1-8).
Effective prayer is one that is done according to the will of God, in the name of Jesus. "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:13). Every will of God is not subjective. It will not be something new that God will speak to us, but it will be what is expressed in His Word.
Everything we ask according to God's will, let us be certain that we will receive it, even if it takes some time or even if there is temporary resistance on the part of the enemy. "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him" (1 John 5:14-15).