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"Praying Like Daniel" and
"A New 21-Day Prayer Focus"
by Chuck D. Pierce
Web: http://www.glory-of-zion.org/
http://www.globalharvest.org
 We
are entering into a season of Harvest praying! This is the time that we are to be
watching NEW DOORS FORM. To "form" means to develop or mold the shape or outline
of something; or to give meaning, character, or nature to something. Another way
of thinking about a season of formation is to see something (including the conditioning
of our mind and body in regard to their mental performance) as it will be in days
ahead. A forming season includes conceiving, training, and disciplining. This phase
denotes the arrangement of the part of a thing that gives its distinctive appearance.
A key scripture reference during this season of Pentecost, the festival where a
first fruits offering of the Harvest was made, is 1 Corinthians 16:8. Paul purposed
to stay at Ephesus until Pentecost because an effectual door was opened to him for
his ministry. This was what the Lord showed me when He visited me in December. Many
enemies are behind this door that is forming, but the Lord says, "Do not focus on
your enemies during this season, but watch the door form and be ready to enter into
this new opportunity. I will give you grace over your enemies." This is the time
for a major conversion of souls. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, "For we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the
heavenly places."
Not only should we be praying for our cities and nations at this time, but we are
at the peak of praying for our mission to the 40/70 Window. This is the time to
pray in a way that the Spirit of God will invade nations. As we pray, new doors
form!
Daniel, the
Powerful Man of Prayer
The person in the Bible that has affected my prayer life the most, other than Jesus,
is Daniel. I just love how he operated in victory in Babylon. He was truly "in the
world, but not of it." He was disciplined, sensitive, consistent, uncompromising,
bold, supernatural, attentive to the past, but always pressing toward God's expected
end for the people of Israel. He understood how prophecy was important in our prayer
lives. He knew we had to use the prophecies spoken to war for our future!
Take, for example, the situation when Jeremiah prophesied that
the people of Israel would go into captivity, but would be released in 70 years.
Daniel uncovered the prophetic writings of Jeremiah while Israel was still held
captive in Babylon. He learned that Jerusalem must lie desolate for 70 years, and
that time had now come to an end. Because of Jeremiah's prophetic declaration, Daniel
knew that now was the time to act. Jeremiah's understanding of the future had turned
into a "now" word for Daniel. So, Daniel did four specific things to bring an end
to Israel's captivity:
1. He prayed and fasted. Jeremiah was specific in saying that the Lord would
turn a deaf ear to His people for 70 years. Now, however, Daniel knew that the kairos
time had come to beseech the Lord for an end to captivity.
2. He repented for himself and his people. Daniel confessed and repented
not only for his own sin, but for the sins, iniquities, and failures of the Israelites
that resulted in their captivity in the first place.
3. He received an angelic visitation. God honored Daniel's efforts and sent
His archangel, Michael. After three weeks of prayer, fasting, and repentance, Michael
appeared to Daniel to tell him what was written in the "Book of the Future." In
other words, he told Daniel what would happen to his people.
4. He received revelation of the future. Because of Jeremiah's prophecy,
Daniel understood the times in which he was living. Because he understood the times,
he saw his window of opportunity and began to seek the Lord with great fervency.
When he did, he gained an understanding of the future God had for his people, and
through obedience to God's commands, could move them forward, out of their captivity.
When the word of God is released through prophecy, it is never
forgotten. It is stored in heaven until God is ready to release it back into the
earth. In the Body of Christ, we have received many prophetic words, both through
Scripture and through modern-day prophets, that are about to come to pass on earth.
We need to understand the times, seize our kairos opportunities, and move into the
future with victory! Even though times ahead will change rapidly and may be difficult,
we have great confidence that God will give us the revelation we need to move forward.
When we are overwhelmed by our present circumstances and apparent defeats, we must
hear the Lord speak to us, just as He did to Jeremiah, "Is there anything too hard
for Me?"
Training Our Children in the
Spirit
Daniel has also been a model for me in training my children. I know we need to protect
our children from evil. However, I also believe we need to train our children in
the release of the anointing, discerning of evil spirits, and how to operate in
receiving divine revelation from the Throne Room. I feel this is a time to train
our children in a supernatural dimension that will give them authority in days ahead
on this earth. I do not want my children, of which I have several, to be afraid
of the supernatural. We find in the first two chapters of Daniel that he was trained
to understand the supernatural. When the magicians and diviners could not interpret
the king's dream, Daniel knew that he could enter into a higher dimension of divine
revelation. Therefore, instead of Daniel and all the diviners being killed, he not
only saved their lives, but his also, by knowing how to receive divine revelation.
He knew how to seek the Lord in almost any situation. The Lord is going to require
us to parent our children like this in days ahead.
The Ancient of
Days Has a Covenant with the Earth
In Daniel 7, we also find revelation of the Ancient of Days. I believe this is very
important and needed revelation for us to be victorious in prayer in days ahead.
In Daniel 7:9-14 we find that Daniel had a revelation of God's everlasting reigning
power. He states:
"I watched until thrones were put (set) in place, and the
Ancient of Days was seated...One like the Son of Man came to the Ancient of Days…Then
to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations and
languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion and His kingdom
shall not be destroyed."
This name of God, "Ancient of Days," is a phrase that describes
the Everlasting God, One advanced in days or knowledge, the Father of Years, and
One who forwards time, or rules over it. The name implies dignity, endurance, judgment,
and wisdom. "His number of years is undiscoverable" (Job 36:26).
The Ancient of Days has a covenant with the earth. In this covenant, the earth will
be full of His purposes and He will be long-suffering until all have heard. The
heart of God is to form covenant with all peoples on the face of the earth and establish
a house of prayer for each one (Isaiah 56:5-8), including those in your city. That
is why we must learn how to prophesy to that which has been scattered through these
thrones of iniquity. Just as Ezekiel did in Ezekiel 37, we must speak to the dry
bones and command them to be brought back to life. This kind of prophetic declaration
not only reestablishes God's covenant purpose for a territory, but also brings those
within the territory out of their hope deferred, causing them to rebuild that which
the enemy has destroyed.
Ancient Wisdom for Present Day
Victory
The Ancient of Days releases ancient wisdom for present day victory. A Scripture
that has revolutionized my prayer life has been 1 Corinthians 2:6-10.
"We speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the
wisdom of the age, nor the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we
speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before
the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew, for had they
known, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. Eye has not seen or ear
heard…the things prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us
through the Spirit."
God gives us several keys as we pray:
- God has wisdom greater than any worldly wisdom we see.
- Powers and principalities do not have access to this wisdom.
- The authority of demonic forces is limited.
- There is wisdom that has been hidden since the beginning of time,
for His glory.
- Through the redemptive cross of Jesus Christ, you have access
to this wisdom.
- God is prepared to release this wisdom to us as we get to know
Him intimately, through prayer.
- This wisdom will overthrow high places and release captives.
- Wisdom dismantles demonic structures and dethrones thrones of
iniquity.
When the Lord showed this to me, I knew any demonic force holding
a territory captive could not withstand the wisdom that God will release to His
people. I knew if the Spirit of the Lord burdened me to pray for a city, I had authority
to gain the keys for the release of its inhabitants.
This is a day when the Lord is extending a fresh call of prayer
to His people. He is going to show us our city as it really is and say to us: "Overcome
every obstacle that is keeping these people from coming to know Me. Open the door
for My House to be built within them so they may experience My Love throughout eternity.
Through prayer, gain wisdom that will dethrone the thrones of iniquity wherever
they have been established. Then establish My Throne that many may worship Me and
gain life everlasting!" This is how entire cities will experience conversion. This
is how we will overthrow thrones of iniquity and see God's covenant plan for whole
territories flourish in days ahead. In Daniel 10, we find Daniel seeking God with
intensity for 21 days. At that point, the Ancient of Days sent the aid of Michael,
the Archangel. Revelation was then released into the earth realm - revelation that
we are walking in today.
Understanding Lawlessness and
the Antichrist System
To understand lawlessness and how it works in the antichrist system, we can look
at the book of Daniel. This was a man who had a revelation of the Ancient of Days.
Daniel's vision is recorded in Daniel 7:21-22:
"I was watching; and the same horn was making war against
the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment
was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints
to possess the kingdom."
In this passage we see that the Ancient of Days is going to favor
us (the saints) in days ahead and the time will come for the saints to possess the
Kingdom. That means we will take dominion, govern, prevail, and dominate the world
powers around us. However, in verses 24 and 25 we find this:
"The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom.
And another shall rise after them, He shall be different from the first ones, and
shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall
persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law.
Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time."
Notice what Scripture says the enemy does. It says here that he
will attempt to change both times and law. He will attempt to redefine law and pull
us out of God's timing. We must understand timing and the spiritual boundaries He
has given us through law. If not, deception will easily enter into our lives.
Consistent Praying Overcomes
Our Adversary!
There is then that famous story about Daniel and his lions' den experience. The
thing I like about Daniel most is his consistency in praying and seeking the Lord
in the midst of adversity. What got him in that hard and trying place was his consistent
prayer life. He prayed three times a day. When decrees and governmental shifts occurred
that forbade seeking a Higher Source, he did not change his communion with his God,
but kept his consistency in seeking revelation. When jealousy and devised evil came
against him, he consistently prayed. When he got in the lions' den, I do not think
he changed his consistent praying. Therefore, God sustained him in the face of what
could have been catastrophe. Consistent praying overcomes our adversary!
Praying Like Daniel:
A 21-Day Prayer Focus to Help Overcome Adversaries in Babylon
by Chuck D. Pierce
The following prayer focus has SEVEN purposes. First, may you understand
covenant in a way you have never understood before. Second, may your faith be built
and connected to your experiences from the past. Third, may your prayer life become
more consistent. Fourth, may you press through in that hard situation that seems
overwhelming. Fifth, may you break through for revelation in the future. Sixth,
may you gain peace in the midst of the "lions" around you. Seventh, may our Lord
reveal to you that open door for your future!
How to Pray!
I want to suggest during these 21 days that you allow the Lord to choose a fast
for you and that you pray three times a day.
Day 1: Read Jeremiah 25. Define types of captivity that seem to burden you
(individuals, ministries, cites, and nations).
Day 2: Read Jeremiah 29. Praise God for His plan for the future. Let HOPE
spring forth. Thank Him that He has an expected end.
Day 3: Read Jeremiah 32. Notice that Jeremiah had to buy a field as an act
of faith. Ask the Lord to reveal any act of faith that He would have you do at this
time in your life. Answer the question in your life: "Is there anything too hard
for God?"
Day 4: Read Jeremiah 33 and Romans 8. Know that God has a plan to surprise
you. Call unto Him and watch Him do things you would not expect. Know that His covenant
will stand. He can pray through you when you do not know what to pray.
Day 5: Read Jeremiah 31. He has many blessings for us in the new covenant.
Day 6: Read Hebrews 8. Let Him define your priestly service for the future.
Day 7: Read Genesis 12. Understand the power of covenant. As born again Believers,
we are grafted into the covenant that God made with Abraham. The war in the earth
realm is over God's covenant blessings. Covenant involves promise, commitment, faithfulness,
and loyalty - even unto death. God is a covenant keeping God. He will war through
His people to maintain His covenant in the earth. The blood of Jesus says to the
enemy, "Hands off! This is not your territory!" Declare the same.
Day 8: Read Genesis 15 and Romans 9. Let faith arise and feel God's agreement
over your life. Understand how you are grafted into God's covenant purposes.
Day 9: Read Genesis 17 and Romans 11. See how the Lord can surprise you even
when you think things seem dead. Also, know that covenant connects you to the blessings
of the generations.
Day 10: Read Daniel 1. Daniel obeyed God and separated himself. Ask the Lord
how to separate yourself from anything that is making you common in the world.
Day 11: Read Daniel 2. Let the Holy Spirit train you to assist in revealing
supernatural wisdom to others.
Day 12: Read Daniel 3. Ask the Lord about compromise in your life. Ask for
help to stand firm.
Day 13: Read Daniel 4. Let the Lord remind you of the power of dreams; may
He activate the gift of interpretation in you.
Day 14: Read Daniel 5 and Psalm 37:1-5. Do not fret over evildoers around
you. God has a plan.
Day 15: Read Daniel 6. Ask the Lord to reveal any plot of evil devised against
you. Be at peace with your lions.
Day 16: Read Daniel 7. Bless the Ancient of Days. Let your enemies see the
court that the Lord is preparing on your behalf.
Day 17: Read Daniel 8. Let angelic forces aid you in bringing Divine understanding
into your situations.
Day 18: Read Daniel 9. Understand the power of identificational repentance
and prayer. This is important for your bloodline, your city, our nation, etc.
Day 19: Read Daniel 10. Withstand and embrace breakthrough.
Day 20: Read Daniel 11. Do not be afraid to see the future that the Lord
has for you.
Day 21: Read Daniel 12 and Revelation 4. See your future door.
by Chuck D. Pierce
http://www.glory-of-zion.org/
http://www.globalharvest.org
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