Daniel 9: 23 “The moment you began praying, a command was given. I am here to tell you what it was, for God loves you very much…” First of all, Daniel was getting to know Gabriel pretty well. Second, the insight that he gives to Daniel is about as clear as mud. But that’s beside the point. What I love about this is that God started working the moment Daniel started praying. He didn’t wait until the prayer was over or a few days after that. It was instantaneous. God loved Daniel. God loves me. God loves you. Imagine how powerful prayer is, and how much more so when we actually begin to pray. That’s like in Frank Peretti’s books. Until the saints of God start to pray, the angels struggle to hold back the forces of the enemy. But once the saints pray… the results are pretty awesome! Now, I don’t know how much the angels struggle when we don’t pray, but I do know that when we pray God does some incredible things (most of which we probably never even realize). So what, you ask? Well, start praying and watch what happens. God starts working the moment we start to pray. The results may not be immediately discernible, but they’re there. And that’s pretty amazing!
Psalm 10:17Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will listen to their cries and comfort them. Frank Peretti wrote a book called This Present Darkness (he also wrote Piercing the Darkness). It’s amazing. For me, it changed how I viewed the spiritual realm, making it more concrete in my mind. In these books he tells the story from the character’s viewpoint, but also from the viewpoint of the angels and demons that are part of the spiritual realm that surrounds us. For example, when the saints of God finally start praying about the problem they are faced with, the angels are energized and strengthened and given the go-ahead for battle. It also shows a little of the darker side as the author imagines how the enemy’s forces subtly infiltrate our society. If you haven’t read these books, I highly recommend them. They’re a great read! That being said, those books remind me a lot of our present times. Psalm 10 talks about how the wicked in the world pretend there isn’t a God. They are full of cursing, lies, threats, mistreating those who are weaker, caring only about advancing themselves. Granted, this is a generalization because there are many good people in the world, but more and more it seems our society is shoving God and His Word and precepts under the rug, hoping that they will disappear and be forgotten. They are systematically erasing God from society. Or trying to. But God will not be forgotten. He planned this time, too. It’s not a surprise to Him. And He won’t ignore the cries of His people. He hears and sees them, even down to knowing what they hope for! Things we hope for aren’t things we usually utter aloud. They are things hidden in our hearts. But God knows these things, too. Throughout history God has come to the rescue of the helpless. Even if this is the “End Times” He will not be erased, He will not be crushed, and He will be triumphant, rescuing His children at His appointed time. These days, it can be a little scary to be a Christ-follower, especially if you follow the government’s acts. And it’s easy to live in our bubble, forgetting the world outside is making laws and setting precedent that affects our bubble. As a Christ-follower I am called to pray for our leaders, pray for the salvation and repentance of our nation, and trust God to help me when I feel helpless against the rip currents of our present world. I may feel helpless, and I may be helpless, but I serve a God who is anything but helpless, and that makes all the difference.