THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM

I wasn’t planning on writing a blog post today until I was reminded of a story from the Old Testament. I believe this reminder was from the Spirit because someone, who will read this post, needs to hear a word from the Lord. In the Book of Daniel, and chapter ten, Daniel received a “revelation” of a “great war” (V1). Daniel wanted to understand what the future held for “his people” (V14) and so he began to seek the Lord. This wasn’t something new to Daniel, as the Lord would frequently reveal to him the interpretation of dreams (see Daniel 2:24ff), the meaning of a message written on a wall (Daniel 5:1ff) and more. The difference in receiving this revelation is in the delay, in the time which lapsed between the beginning of his prayer (Daniel 9) and the answer (Daniel 10). The delay was for a period of three weeks. During the whole time Daniel was fasting (10:3). Daniel didn’t know why there was a delay, he only knew the effect it was having on his world: his friends abandoned him (10:7), his strength was depleted, his face “turned deathly pale” (10:8). Not a good time, to say the least. 

An important point in this account is how Daniel never gave up seeking the Lord and listening for the revelation he so desperately desired. How would the story have changed if Daniel had given in to his physical discomfort and any disappointment or discouragement he may have been dealing with because of the delay? Yesterday I saw a tweet from Christine Caine, which goes along with my thoughts today about Daniel: “How do you not know that the next step you take will be the one that gets you there? Don't quit!” What if Daniel would have stopped seeking the Lord on day 14, or even more on day 20, one day before he received his answer from the Lord? 

In Daniel’s situation, the reason for the three-week delay between the beginning of his time of seeking the Lord and the revelation was due to a major spiritual battle in the unseen realm. An unnamed angel of the Lord, who was bringing to Daniel the revelation he desired, was being resisted by “the prince of the Persian kingdom” (10:13), an angel of darkness. It wasn’t until the chief prince, Michael, came to assist the messenger angel, did the spiritual breakthrough occur.

Here’s what I sensed the Spirit saying to me this morning, and the message I believe someone reading this blog desperately needs to hear: “There’s always more going on than meets the eye. Things aren’t always as they seem.” This is one of those spiritual truths which I frequently need to be reminded of. The ability to see is one of the greatest gifts we’ve received from God. Yet there is a strong potential for deception connected to this ability when we fail to take into consideration that what we see is what we see, but what we see is never all there is to see. There is a “great war” being waged in the unseen realm, and it impacts each one of our lives; though sometimes we’re closer to battle than other times. 

While I don’t claim to be an expert in spiritual warfare, I do have more experience with it than I’d like. What I hear from the Spirit today is a strong encouragement, which I share with you and take to heart myself: “Don’t give up seeking the Lord!” There are angels which have been assigned to you today, who are fighting for you. Psalm 91:11 (NIV) “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Read Psalm 91 if you want to know more about these angels on assignment.

Friend, you may be experiencing a “great war” in your life right now. Don’t give up seeking the Lord because he will lead you to victory!