DAY 3 Encouragement

     Daniel had received a perplexing and distressing vision from the Lord, and he had set himself to fasting and praying for his people.  After 3 weeks, Daniel still had not heard anything else from the Lord.  Finally, the answer came:

Then he said to me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind and heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come as a consequence of [and in response to] your words.  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me for twenty-one days.  Then Michael, one of the chief [of the celestial] princes, came to help me, for I remained there with the kings of Persia.   Daniel 10:12-13

After 3 weeks,  I bet Daniel was beginning to wonder if his prayers were being heard or if he had just "imagined" the vision.  Surely, at some point in time he said, "Hello?  Are you there God?  Why aren't you answering me?"  If he had not at least said this in his mind, the angel would have had no reason to explain what took so long for the answer to arrive.

Have you ever thought, "Uh, God, you're late!"  Have you wondered if your prayers were being heard or if you just "imagined" a word from the Lord?  Come on now, I'm sure I'm not the only one out there?

One of the hardest things for me has been learning to WAIT on the Lord.  Even when in the natural it would seem that God is late - the house payment was due yesterday, I needed the job 6 months ago, the important meeting was last week, my spouse left me 3 months ago - you can trust that He's not!

To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven...

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Even though it may not fit our timetable, God's timing is perfect.  We can trust Him!  It's very, very, VERY important that we understand this basic Truth of our Christian faith - He is FAITHFUL!  He will work all things together for our good because we love Him, and we are called according to HIS purposes.  Let's put it this way, if He seems to be late, it just gives Him a bigger stage to show-off! =)

What would seem a delay in God's action in your life could be the work of the enemy as it was in Daniel's case, or it just might be that God is working it all together for your BEST.  One thing I know - He's working it all together, and you are going to be AMAZED by His awesomeness!

Now to Him Who, by the action of His power that is at work within us, is able to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]...

Ephesians 3:20

I'm going to encourage you today that, "It's not too late!"  Trust Him, and watch Him do His thing!

Scriptures for reference and study: Daniel 10:1-13; Romans 8:28