Praying Down Powers and Principalities

Lessons From Daniel’s Experience

When the prophet Daniel was probably in his mid-80s, he set his heart to pray for the Jews in Jerusalem. He prayed for 21 days, mourning with prayer and fasting because of the resistance of the remnant back in Jerusalem.

“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled” (Dan. 10:2-3).

In response to Daniel’s prayer a mighty angel came (vv. 10-14). This high-ranking, mighty angel (vv. 5-6) was similar in stature to the angel the apostle John later saw in his vision (Rev. 10:1). The angel said to Daniel: “From the first day that you set your heart to … humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince [demonic principality] of the kingdom of Persia withstood me 21 days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes [archangel], came to help me” (Dan. 10:12-13).

This is a very important passage for understanding the biblical theology of intercession and spiritual warfare. A mighty angel told Daniel, in essence, “From the very first day, 21 days ago, when you set your heart to humble yourself, I was sent to you.” The mighty angel made a dramatic statement: “I came because of your words.” This statement makes clear that angels respond to the prayers of the saints. Gabriel had told Daniel the same thing two years earlier: “Because of your words, the Father sent me” (see Dan. 9:22-23).

But if Daniel had not continued in prayer with fasting, the angel would not have come. It was important for Daniel to persevere in prayer for the full 21 days to get the necessary breakthrough. His experience proves that there is a dynamic relationship between what we do and how God visits a city or nation. Remember, this is not about “earning” anything but about aligning with Him by coming into agreement with His will. Our words are heard because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

The mighty angel pulled back the curtain in the spirit realm to allow Daniel to see a glimpse of the angelic and demonic authorities that are over the natural authority structures of the nations. He told Daniel that the “prince of the kingdom of Persia” withstood him when Daniel first began to pray. This is a reference to the demonic prince—principality or high-ranking demonic power—exerting his influence over the region of ancient Persia (modern-day Iran) and was affecting the human prince, or king, of Persia in a negative way. This demonic prince was warring against Israel by seeking to stir up the human king of Persia against God’s people (Dan. 10:13, 20-21).

Daniel fought the demonic prince of Persia by agreeing with God in prayer and fasting. The mighty angel informed him that “Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help” (v. 13). A “chief prince” is an archangel, one who leads angels.

Jesus can easily overpower a demonic principality. However, His authority is exerted or made manifest in the earthly realm through believers who agree with Him and who persevere in obedience and prayer with faith. The reason Jesus releases His power more through prayer is because He wants partnership with His people, and prayer is one of the main ways partnership is strengthened.

The spiritual events of Daniel 10 were recorded in the Scripture to give us a model of what God wants to do in our day to hinder the demonic principalities over Iran, Iraq and every other nation. These principalities can be withstood as the Spirit raises up a “corporate Daniel” to pray for angelic help to overcome the demonic powers assaulting Israel.

Indeed, Daniel 10 is a model of spiritual warfare for the end-time church. Let us take our stand before the throne of God as we follow this prayer model and ask the Lord for angelic intervention in our world today.

Mike Bickle is the director of the International House of Prayer Missions Base in Kansas City, Missouri, and author of several books, including his newest, Growing in Prayer, which releases this month and from which this article was taken.