Answered Prayer

Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. Dan. 10:12

Sometimes the answer to prayer is a long time coming. We are a very impatient people, and often become agitated because of the long wait that, many times, accompanies the answer to prayer. It took twenty-one days for Daniel to see the answer to his urgent prayer, because the answer had to pass through enemy territory! (Dan. 10:13). I believe that sometimes, this is the reason for the delay in our prayer answers also. We have no idea of the warfare that is waged in our behalf. As God receives our legitimate requests, the answer is assured, but the timing is not always according to our desires. Imagine, God sends the answer back to us, and all the way down the line it is attacked by unseen forces. Depending on the particular request, and the importance of it to the glorification of the Lord, the attack can be very fierce, and takes much effort on the part of the delivering angel. Be patient, God promises to answer our prayers, and remember, prayer is not an option, it is a necessity.