Strike Again, Evans Olang

Daniel 10:12, “Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.

We live in time where everything is needed in a hurry. Talk about fast food restaurants, you drop in and get what you want, how you want it and fast. If the process is delayed even a little, frustrations are noticed. We cannot work with God in the same manner, His times are not our times. God sees far beyond what you and I see in the natural and knows what is best. You have to keep on knocking, seeking, asking. It is God’s way or no way as simple as that.

God’s seasons are not at your beck. If the first stroke of the flint does not bring forth the fire, you must strike again. God will hear prayer, but He may not answer at the time which we in our minds have appointed; He will reveal Himself to our seeking hearts, but not just when and where we have settled in our own expectations. Hence the need of perseverance and importunity in supplication. Prayer is not to change God, prayer is to change us.

Daniel set himself to pray and fast for three weeks when he saw a vision that needed interpretation. Here is a man who knew what he needed to do and set himself to do it. He knew it would cost him to get results but he still set himself anyway. Are you always waiting for someone to pray for you or have you learnt like Daniel to set yourself to pray? Pray without ceasing add fasting to strengthen your prayers and see what God will do. Fast as a reminder is not a way to say “Lord see what I am doing” but rather, “Lord you are better than all, I demonstrate it by fasting”. This is about passion. Daniel’s prayer reached the first day and answered, however there was the prince of air blocking and delaying the messenger from bringing the answer to him. There was a delay but Daniel kept on seeking, knocking, asking while the heaven was in motion breaking through the barriers. When the bible says in 1Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing“, that does not mean, “pray without stopping“, it indicates, “pray without giving up“.

In the days of flint and steel and brimstone matches we had to strike and strike again, dozens of times, before we could get a spark to live in the tinder; and we were thankful enough if we succeeded at last. At times we stopped but did not give up. Shall we not be as persevering and hopeful as to heavenly things? We have more certainty of success in this business than we had with our flint and steel, for we have God’s promises at our back. “Never let us despair. God’s time for mercy will come; yea, it has come, if our time for believing has arrived. Ask in faith nothing wavering; but never cease from petitioning because the King delays to reply. Strike the steel again. Make the sparks fly and have your tinder ready; you will get a light before long”, Charles Spurgeon. Daniel the man of God did, we too need to. Blessings Evans

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