Devotional

Then He said, "Don't be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer."
But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.
Daniel 10:12-13

Token prayers are the kind of activity that gives lip service to the call to prayer but does not take it seriously. These kinds of prayers are often a once off request, or out of habit, or because it is the thing to do. Many of the Pharisees of Jesus day did not see prayer as a real power connection with heaven but as a status symbol. The better you prayed out loud, the more people respected you.

This is not the true journey of prayer. Unfortunately, many Christians will retreat into this very shallow view of prayer because of negative experiences. They prayed, but it made no difference. Yet one thing we learn is that prayer is a journey. It requires persistence. It requires faith that God hears and will answer. It requires humility that God’s answers may not always turn up in the manner and timing of our desire.

Daniel prayed, and God’s answer was immediate, yet Daniel did not know that for 21 days. And there are spiritual reasons for the delay.

We are committed to 40 days of prayer because we understand that hearing from God takes a journey, not just a once off prayer meeting. I trust over this time that we can learn, not only what God wants us to do next, but also about prayer itself.
Please make a priority to journey with us in this.

Brett Wilson