When Heaven Draws Near

“In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar…In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks…Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen…Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me…Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, ‘O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.’” (Daniel 10:1-11)

James 4:8 states plainly, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” While this is a great and familiar promise, it’s important to ask the question, “What do you expect to happen when God does draw near? What might it actually look like when heaven responds to us - to our cries, our prayers, our seeking after God?”

Here in Daniel 10, we see what it was like in the life of Daniel when heaven invaded his life in a literally breathtaking way, in response to His prayers! While Daniel’s experience was a rather unique one, yet from his experience we can identify some common ingredients that we can expect when heaven draws near to us, even today.

When Heaven Draws Near...
…we receive revelation of Jesus, enabling us to see more of His glory!
…we are humbled and undone in His holy presence.
…we know more fully how loved we are.
…we gain an understanding of spiritual truth we didn’t have before.
…we become more aware of unseen spiritual realities.
…we receive the supernatural strength and heavenly help that we need.

Through Daniel’s heavenly visit, we are exhorted to NEVER STOP PRAYING! It may take 21 days or more for you to see heaven draw near, but from the moment you start praying, your prayers are being heard and responded to. So keep going, persevere, and persist in prayer!

Furthermore, we are reminded that we cannot disregard the unseen spirit realm that exists all around us. A war between angels and demons has been going on in the heavenlies for a very long time! We need to remember that we have an unseen enemy, that on the large scale is influencing world nations and leaders to advance Satan’s agenda, while on the more personal level is stirring conflict and division, and seeking to destroy relationships, marriages, homes, and churches. We must always remember that spiritual battles are not won by human weapons and efforts, but on our knees in prayer and in submission to our Lord, as we put on the full armor of God!

Finally, in light of Daniel’s experience, we must consider what we might be forfeiting if we’ve not been making it a priority to regularly, daily draw near to our God in prayer and in His Word. May we put aside excuses, stop letting the world dictate our calendars and To-Do lists, and go forward with a heightened seriousness to live out the divine command to “draw near to God,” that we might see and experience all that God wants to do in and through us, when He draws near to us in response!

DANIEL CHALLENGE - As wars rage all around us, pay attention to where you are looking. Rather than looking so much at yourself, at angelic beings, or at all kinds of screens, “lift your eyes and look” at Jesus, as Daniel did. Keep your gaze on your Champion, who fights your battles for you, and who has already won the war!

Questions for Reflection:

1. How do you sense God calling you to incorporate fasting or forms of self-denial in your prayer life? What is one way you can commit to live that out this week to seek the Lord more fervently?

2. Can you recall the last time you received a fresh glimpse of Jesus to behold more of His glory, beauty, and power? What were the circumstances and how would you describe what that was like? How has this chapter challenged you to seek more that is there for you to behold of Him?

3. Why do we so often find it challenging to persist in prayer about a matter? How are you encouraged and inspired by Daniel’s visit to persevere in praying?

4. What are some specific ways you have seen angels and/or demons actively working in your own life or in our world at large? How does this shape your perspective and understanding both of world events and of happenings in your own life? How do you keep a biblical perspective and not get overly preoccupied with angelic beings?