Daniel 10:15

Daniel 10:15 says, And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.  Daniel became very humble in the presence of this angel, and was struck dumb, or had nothing that he could say.  When we are in the presence of a messenger from God, we should be just as humble and just listen to what God has to say to us.  I believe that sometimes we are just too full of self-pride to really hear God's answer to our prayers.  We continue to talk instead of listening.  Verse sixteen adds, And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.  Daniel then said that one like unto the sons of men touched his lips, and he could speak.  I believe that when we are witnessing for Christ, especially in a difficult situation, that God will touch our lips and give us the words to say.  Daniel said that the vision of his sorrows was turned on him, leaving him with no strength.  I believe that sometimes when we know the outcome of God's plan for redemption and that there will come a time of great persecution of the church, that we may feel powerless.  Like Daniel, we retain no strength of our own but must rely on the power of God.  Verse seventeen continues, For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.  Daniel wanted to know how he could speak to this angel, whom he called his Lord.  Daniel felt overwhelmed by the presence of the angels, but what he needed to remember was that they also were the servants of God, sent to help Daniel.  If God gives us words to speak, and if nothing else we are to be witnesses for the gospel, then we should never allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the status of any that we are speaking to.  Verse eighteen states, Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,  In the previous verse Daniel had asked how he could speak to this angel, and God again answered his prayer.  Daniel could speak because he was strengthened, or empowered, by God.  The reason that we can boldly speak God's word today is because we are empowered by the Holy Spirit.  If we are truly open to the leadership of the Holy Spirit we do not need to feel powerless.  Verse nineteen adds, And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.  Daniel was told that he was greatly loved by God so he need not be afraid.  As followers of Christ, we are also greatly loved by God, so we need not be afraid.  Daniel believed God's message to him and was strengthened by God.  If we are to be followers of Christ, we must first believe God's message of salvation.  Then we can be strengthened by the Holy Spirit and find peace.  Verse twenty continues, Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.  The angel, or messenger of God, did not remain with Daniel.  He had completed his task, and returned to heaven to begin his next task, which was to fight with the prince of Persia and then of Greece.  Kingdoms change, but God's redemptive work always goes on.  Verse twenty-one concludes, But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.  What was to happen then and what is happening now and will happen in the future is what God's word says will happen.  We are simply to take our strength from God and live in His peace.