Tiptoe Anticipation

“Don’t be afraid, Daniel. God has heard everything that you said ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in front of your God so that you could learn to understand things.

I have come in response to your prayer."

Daniel 10:12 GW

 

 

In the 10^th chapter of the Old Testament book of Daniel, we read of a time when Daniel spent three weeks—21 days—fasting and praying for an answer. At the end of that time, it seemed none was to be had. Daniel was left waiting.

 

Then, on the 24^th day, a messenger of God came to him. Daniel was told that from the first day he laid out his heart before God that his words were heard. From the very first day. But, the response had been delayed.

 

During those 24 days, there was a battle waging behind the scenes that Daniel was unaware of.

 

Daniel persisted in prayer. Finally, the answer came.

 

Fern Nichols, Founder & President of Moms in Prayer International, wrote, "Prevailing prayer is persistent prayer. It's devoting ourselves to stay the course until the answer comes (Colossians 4:2). It's believing that our prayers will transform other's lives. It's tiptoe anticipation, just waiting for the God of heaven and earth to burst forth with the answer."

 

What answer are you on tiptoe anticipating? Are you staying the course?

 

Fern reminds us that "our prevailing prayers are like the wind of the Holy Spirit, causing the object of our prayers to bend before its persistent force. On any given day we may not see the effects of our prayer; nonetheless, God is at work."

 

We can be sure, just as the angel assured Daniel, that the Lord hears our prayers for our children. Sometimes the answers are immediate, while the words are still in our mouths. But, more often, those answers are unseen for weeks, months, or even years.

 

Colossians 4:2 in the Amplified Bible tells us, "Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving."  We must with faithful devotion make our voices heard before the throne.

 

But there's more to it. We have to go beyond the persistent asking into thanksgiving. This is an attitude of heart that will keep our prayers full of faith and hope. And that attitude will keep us then in tiptoe anticipation actively waiting to see what the Lord has planned in answer…from the first day we laid out our hearts before Him.

 

"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving,

continue to make your wants known to God."

Philippians 4:6 AMP