Day 21 – Spiritual Warfare and Prayer

Read Daniel 10: 1 – 21

At the start of Daniel 10 we see that Daniel has a heavy burden because not all the Jews had decided to return to Jerusalem and this revealed a deep spiritual apathy on the part of his people. He was also worried because the rebuilding of Jerusalem project was going slowly due to harassment from renegade Jews and poor leadership from those in charge of the project. Daniel faces inner turmoil and he mourns for 21 days, fasting and praying in seclusion because of his burden for his people. Daniel was burdened because it appeared that his people had learned nothing from their captivity so he went to God for an answer in prayer.

While Daniel’s internal conflict was raging, there was a spiritual battle occurring concurrently. An angel reveals that Satan had actually intercepted God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer. After a 21-day battle and with the help of Michael the archangel, God’s emissary was able to defeat Satan’s forces and get the answer to Daniel. Ephesians 2:2 reminds us that Satan is indeed “the prince and power of the air” and Ephesians 6:12 says “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Evil in this world has Satan as a commander and works daily against God’s good plan.
Most of us don’t bother to pray like Daniel did. God doesn’t need us to pray to get His work done, but prayer lets us take part in the spiritual battle. Most of us seldom pray with the reality that there is a spiritual battle going on. How would this reality change the way we pray for our children/grandchildren, our church and spiritual leaders, our governmental leaders and schools?

Q1. Why was Daniel mourning in Chapter 10? What did he do when he was troubled? What do you generally do when you are troubled?

Q2. Read Ephesians 6: 10 – 20. What are the pieces of spiritual armor? Which pieces are offensive and which are defensive weapons? What role does prayer play in equipping us for spiritual battle?

Q3. Have you ever sensed you were in a spiritual battle? How should we train for spiritual warfare? When Satan attacks us or a member of our family or church, what will determine the battle outcome?

Final thought: We should feel an obligation to speak out against evil and injustice. We are encouraged to protest oppression or march with others in support of a just cause. Voting is certainly good but often the greatest change is brought about through prayer. Fervent prayer can make a difference in our lives and those of others.