Prayer to unblock delays
Say “no” to discouragement!
The other day, I was praying for a family member’s healing, and I got so discouraged!
I realized that I’d been contending for this breakthrough for almost five years, and I still hadn’t seen any fruit.
Was God not hearing my cries?
On the contrary, I think He had heard my prayers, but the answer had been delayed due to spiritual warfare.
But how do delays even happen?
Delayed answers
In the book of Daniel, an angel explained that Daniel’s answer to prayer had been delayed because of demonic resistance.
The angel went on to describe how the Prince of Persia had held him back after God had dispatched the answer. It took a higher-ranking angel to intervene and set the breakthrough free:
“… Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.” — Daniel 10:12–14 NIV
Interestingly, the Lord’s answer was released as soon as Daniel prayed. But it took almost an entire month for the breakthrough to arrive!
Trapped in the Second Heaven
The Apostle Paul talks in 2 Corinthians about a paradise realm called the third heaven, saying:
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. – 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 NIV
If there’s a third heaven, I’m willing to bet there’s a first and second.
In theological circles, I’ve heard it explained that the first heaven is the physical reality we see before us (including the earth and the universe). The second is the spiritual realm where the angels and demons do battle.
Contending for your breakthrough
If you’ve been waiting on an answer from God, don’t be discouraged. Like in Daniel’s situation, God’s answer may have already been dispatched. It’s just being delayed in the second heaven and needs another push!
Let’s pray:
Holy Spirit, I ask that You send Your highest-ranking angels to step in and bring closure to our long-awaited prayers. Bring breakthrough to any areas that have been delayed, forgotten, or abandoned. Release Your answers now so that we can walk in our divine calling and bring Your Kingdom to earth. We say NO to delays and YES to Your perfect timing. I pray this all in Jesus’ Name, amen.
P.S. for more information on the first, second, and third heavens, check out my Warring with Wisdom Ecourse. Use the code FREEDOM for $25 OFF until July 15th.