What to do when the battle goes long!

READ:  Daniel 10

Spiritual battles are never short enough.  As well, there are struggles that all of us face privately that go on so much longer than we had prayed they would. For example, we received a promise from God and we’re certain He’s spoken to us—faith rose, anticipation, but then things don’t seem to happen.

The message was true; the appointed time was long

Let’s bring it down to you and me: I know God gave me a word of promise, but now I discover that it will be longer in coming about than I had hoped or prayed. And that brings conflict. Not animosity toward God but a wrenching within the soul. In this situation, Daniel’s response teaches us five things to do when the war goes on longer than expected:

Make it a time for humble soul-searching

·         You can face long-term difficulty one of two ways: you can wait for things to happen or you can wait on God.

·         If you wait on things, you will be confined to the changing circumstances of things that never seem to satisfy.

·         If you wait on God, you find a place of permanency, sustaining and confidence, no matter what’s going on around you.

Expect God to show you things that other people might not see

(v. 5) Daniel describes a vision. God has given His Holy Spirit to us for many reasons (Acts 2). He gives the Holy Spirit according to the prophecies of the Scripture, that every one of us who have received the fullness of His Spirit will receive visions and dreams; He will show you things that have to do with you. When He speaks to you by dreams or visions it’s always in line with the Scripture.

It’s important to know that when the Lord speaks to you, He doesn’t give you the dream or the vision in order to show you something that feeds your ego or inflates you with a sense of spiritual superiority. He doesn’t show you things to necessarily have you tell them to anybody else. Believe that if it happened to Daniel, you can expect God to show you things too.

Listen to God’s message of certainties you can cling to

(vv. 10-12) Three things are said to Daniel:

    * You’re greatly loved;

    * Your prayer has been heard;

    * I am here because you prayed;

    * But it’s not all over yet.

Every struggle involves the resolution of more than just your dilemma

You are always dealing with satanic obstruction when it comes to the blockage of human will. The heavenly visitor refers to “in the latter days.” Some things have to do with appointed times. You are dealing with times, people’s will, and satanic opposition. There are things that we want to happen quickly, but you don’t just throw a switch in heaven and make everything melt into a critical mass that explodes and becomes the answer to your prayer.  Remember!  Everything is not just about you!  God is at work redeeming all of creation!

Let the peace of God rule in your heart

(v. 19) In our weakness, we’re wondering and waiting, but we need not fear. Let God’s peace make you strong, and let His Spirit refresh you.

Phillipians 4: 6, 7 says:  Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.  And God's peace which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!