Today’s Reading: Daniel 10, Psalm 28

What God was asking of Daniel was huge! His visions left him feeling weak, as if all his strength had left him. Can you relate? Has your life journey or the life situations you are facing left you drained of all energy and strength? Are you feeling alone or unheard? May these words to Daniel wash over you and give you strength. May you hear the voice of God and picture the heavenly realms today. May you know with confidence that you are loved by God and that you are most definitely not alone. God is listening. May you feel the hand of God touch you and lift you up today.

My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.

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.” – Daniel 10:8b-12

Notice the progression of Daniel’s position. He faints and lays with his face to the ground. The hand of God touches him and lifts him up, but only to his hands and knees. Then, with a voice that roared like a vast multitude of people, the man of God told Daniel to stand up. Then Daniel, still trembling, stood up.

DO YOU EVER FIND IT HARD TO PRAY?

Have you ever been so drained from your life experiences, from the struggles and troubles surrounding you, that it was difficult for you to pray? You fall on your face before God and perhaps weep, but there are no words.

There are times when we need the strength of God simply to get on our knees and to be able to come before him and speak — to pray what we are feeling and present our requests to Him. He is just the kind of God to give us the strength we need to pray. Praise God! He also loves us enough to tell us when to stand, to confirm to us that He has heard our prayers.

While he was speaking to me, I looked down to the ground, unable to say a word. Then the one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, “I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak. How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.” – Daniel 10:15-17

DO YOU EVER FIND IT HARD TO BREATHE?

It’s too much! It’s more than I can handle! I can’t breathe! Have you ever spoken these words or prayed something similar? There are times when what God is asking us to do or asking us to experience seems impossible, seems too big for us. At times the situation ahead is difficult, painful, and overwhelming. Listen to God’s words to Daniel:

“Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.” – Daniel 10:19

JUST A WORD FROM GOD AND WE SUDDENLY FEEL STRONGER!

When God speaks, there is a new hope born in us that strengthens us for what is ahead. Praise God, He gives us the strength we need. When we do not have the words to describe what we need or what we are asking God to do for us, He understands our heart and knows our thoughts. That awareness alone can give us the strength we need to put one foot in front of the other, trusting Him to lead us into the unknown.

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. – Romans 8:26-30

Lord, give us a word from you today. Hear our requests and strengthen us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, align our hearts with the heart of the God who knows us, who hears us, who sees us, and who lovingly says — You are precious to me. Be encouraged. Be strong. Amen.

The Lord gives his people strength. – Psalm 28:8a