Overcoming Hindrances

June 20

Hindrances. Things that stand between us and the answers to our prayers are frustrating to deal with. When they interfere with the receipt of our answers we can become totally out of sorts. When they stop our flow of blessing, we can fail to recognize the origin of the hindrance. We might even presume to blame God.

But we would be incorrect in our assumption that the Lord had denied our petition. His Word assures us that He hears the cries of our hearts and that He cares for us to the point of taking our burdens upon Himself (I Peter 5:7). We know that when we lay our need before Him, He will supply it in full measure.

The incident is told of Daniel’s petition that was a long time in being fulfilled. In Chapter 9:21, he tells us, “While I was speaking in prayer, the angel Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision…touched me at the time of my evening prayer.”

The angel then spoke to Daniel in 9:23 saying, “At the beginning of your petitions, an answer went out and I have come to give it, for you are greatly beloved by God.”

After explaining the vision to Daniel, the angel stated in Daniel 10:13 that the answer was hindered by ‘the Prince of Persia,’ the demonic entity that exercises authority over that region. Before the answer to Daniel’s supplication could be received, the interference rendered by this evil being had to be defeated. Our prayers, too, can be hindered by forces that desire to prevent our blessing. Our part is to press forward in Jesus’ name until those forces are overcome.