Did you know April 23rd is a significant day in Biblical history? Come journey with me through Daniel chapter 10 to unpack the prophetic vision and Christ encounter with Daniel. Here we can extract a powerful word of encouragement and leave empowered through whatever season you find yourself in! 

Grab your Bible & let's turn to Daniel Chapter 10

Your translation may say (verse 4) this event happened on the 24th day of the 1st month...this is in reference to the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This date can be cross-checked with dates surviving Persian records and can be related accurately to our modern calendar. This event occurred on April 23, 536 B.C. 

What can we take from this message: 

1. Don't let the supernatural scare you out of having a God encounter. 

As we see in verse 7, the men that were with Daniel were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. Don't be like these men and be afraid of an encounter with God and miss out on a powerful vision from God. 

2. God hears your prayers and sends messengers on assignment to help you.

Just as the messenger (Christ pre-incarnate) assured Daniel in verse 12, "Don't be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer." The same is true for you. Highlight this verse, write it down, have it readily available to encourage you if you're in a season of intense prayer and fasting while waiting for breakthrough. God is faithful and your prayers are powerful! 

3. Your prayers activate heaven and aggravate the spiritual forces of darkness. 

Stand in confidence knowing that God is faithful and hears your prayers. If you're experiencing the frustration of delay, it just may be that things are happening in the spirit realm beyond your understanding. After all, as we learn in Ephesians 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." 

As the Messenger told Daniel, his prayers reached heaven on day one but that spiritual forces were blocking or preventing help to come. Be encouraged by Daniel's persistence in prayer and fasting! 

4. Don't believe the lie that you are unworthy or incapable of having direct access to hear from God, gain heavenly insight & be a heaven-sent solution 

Just as God used Daniel in powerfully prophetic ways to be a heaven-sent solution who was entrusted with great vision and insight, God is equally eager to use you! Don't enable the spirit of insecurity to deceive you into believing you're unworthy or incapable of hearing from God. Let this be a confirming word that He WANTS to work through you for Kingdom purpose. You ARE a change-agent in this generation and your prophetic voice is valuable! 

God is within you and He wants us to abide with Him (John 15) so that we can hear Him, see Him, feel Him and partner with Him as representatives, change-agents, world impactors so that we can help restore this earth as He would have it in Heaven. God uses the voices of His people to speak truth and life as they obediently release words of prophecy and wisdom to build up, encourage and empower the Body of Christ, His Church. Why WOULDN'T God want to use YOU!? 

As Joel 2:28-30 & Acts 2:17-21 tells us, "I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on the servants - men and women alike. And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth - blood and fire and columns of smoke. 

Will you continue to pray and fast even when you don't see immediate breakthrough? Will you continue to contend and have faith that heaven hears your prayers? Will you commit to remaining in peace and lean into the supernatural workings of God believing that you are a valuable power player for the Kingdom of God? Will you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, with your ear inclined to Him and obediently release the solutions given to you through your encounter with Him to prophetically encourage, equip, edify and exhort the Body of Christ in these end-time days? 

Receive it. Release it. In Jesus' name! 

Was this message encouraging for you today? Please share with a friend in need! I'd love to hear your prayer requests in the comments below or, as always, I'm always just a message away!