21/08/2025
“HEARD SINCE DAY ONE”
Ever feel like your prayers are being delayed? The Bible tells us that when we pray, our words are heard from the very beginning. But sometimes, there are spiritual battles happening that can try to stop our prayers from reaching heaven.
Daniel 10:12: "Then he continued, '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.'"
Here are three things to remember when you feel like your prayers are delayed:
1. Rebuke the spiritual realms.
Sometimes, there's more to a prayer delay than we realize. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." This means we are in a spiritual battle, and we must fight it with faith and prayer. A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian.
2. The heavens are fighting for you.
Just like God rescued the Israelites from the Egyptians in Exodus 14:13-20, He fights for us when we are tempted by our "old ways." We may have been freed from sin, but Satan will keep trying to pull us back. We need to stand still in our faith and remember that God's angels are sent to move and fight for us. Our prayer life defines who we are and whose we are.
Exodus 14:13-20: "Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through it on dry ground. I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.” Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither army went near the other all night long."
3. Persevere because God intervenes.
When we keep on praying, we draw closer to God. As 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Don't give up, because heaven doesn't stop fighting for you.
Conclusion:
Isaiah 44:8: "Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”
Word: Ellen Grace S. Baya
Song lead: Guendhelyn Faith Avenido
Opening Prayer: Trisha Kate Roa
Closing Prayer: Joseph Miras
