How long is 21 days?
504 hours, 30,240 minutes, 3 weeks? I will tell you that 21 days is 13 years. Let me explain.
In Daniel chapter 10 of the Bible is a story of Daniel praying for his people. They were a people who had ignored God and as a result were headed for war and hardship. Daniel prays for 21 days. Scripture says he was so grieved that he mourned and fasted.
I know that desperation. I too have prayed for my people. I cried, I begged, I fasted, and I mourned. They were in a war, both physical and spiritual, that brough them to the edge of the grave over and over. It could have easily taken their very lives. My cries and petitions to God seemed to have no resolution, but I did not quit, I could not quit. Even my seemingly unanswered prayers were spoken in God's presence - where there is comfort.
At the end of Daniel's 21 days, an angel shows up to explain the delay. He tells Daniel that his requests were indeed heard. He tells him that he had been dispatched on the first day that Daniel prayed, but for 21 days had been held up in battle with the dark forces of the enemy. Just to be clear, we are literally talking about a battle taking place between the representatives of heaven and hell. One sent to destroy and one sent to save. If you wonder if that's real, just look around - it explains a lot.
The battle raged for my loved ones. Sometimes I fought with them and sometimes I just caught shrapnel from the sidelines. It was brutal. I ran out of words to pray and tears to cry. I lamented to God, "How long is our 21 days?" Finally, help broke through and my people were saved. Those are amazing stories where just like for Daniel, Heaven literally showed up. It took 13 years.
God sent rescue. He did it 2000 years ago when Jesus paid for all the war and hardship we will ever face. And He does it today. He did it for my people, and He'll do it for you and yours if you trust Him.
If you are praying for someone don't stop.
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