Editor’s note: Over the past two days, our eyes have been on the disappointing election results, with so many radicals succeeding across the nation. Even in these difficult times, however, our assignment at IFA remains fixed: to pray for our leaders and see God’s plans and purposes fulfilled. And for that, we need to keep our eyes on Him and continue to understand the times. 

Because of this need, we thought it would be timely to bring you the final article in IFA Contributor Gloria Robles’ series on intercession. You can read the previous part, part 6, by clicking here.

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In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem (Daniel 9:1-2).

In 1 Chronicles 12:32, some tribal leaders were known for understanding times and seasons and knowing what to do: the sons of Issachar. These men were gifted in discerning conditions and possessed the wisdom to act appropriately. Although the prophet Daniel came from the tribe of Judah, he definitely possessed both wisdom and discernment for the nation. 

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Daniel, a captive living in exile in Babylon, became renowned for his wisdom and was targeted out of envy. He served under four kings. The secret to Daniel’s success wasn’t his stature, lineage, or wealth. The secret was his prayer life, seen throughout his life. Before he did anything, he prayed to the Lord. 

Daniel answered and said, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding (Daniel 2:20-21). In his own strength, Daniel didn’t understand the times and the seasons, but in prayer the Lord revealed secrets and gave him supernatural insight.

In Daniel 9, after reading Jeremiah the prophet’s words, he discerns that the 70-year exile period is nearing its end. In this chapter, Daniel turns his face to the Lord and humbles himself with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. He makes supplication, confessing their sins and agreeing that they have broken their covenant with the Lord. Daniel’s act is an aspect of intercession called identificational repentance, and he repents on behalf of the nation’s leaders for their unfaithfulness. Although Daniel himself didn’t worship other gods, he stood in their place as if he were guilty, too. He appeals to the Lord for mercy. He asks Him to hear their prayers, forgive their sins, and act on their behalf, interceding for the people (see Daniel 9:3-19). 

The Lord responds by sending a messenger to explain the prophecy, and Daniel receives a revelation of God’s plan for redemption, the coming Messiah. Daniel is a stellar example of how to respond appropriately. He studied the Word and recognized a divinely appointed time. He sought the Lord with humility, fasting, and prayer, and made intercession.

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

• A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:4). 

There are seasons of mourning when tears will flow. There are seasons of great joy and laughter. When Daniel read Jeremiah’s words, he responded with fasting, sackcloth and ashes, and repentance. It was a time of mourning for a nation that turned away from God and broke its covenant with Him. However, in Nehemiah, the people sinned and, after hearing the law read, mourned and wept. Yet Nehemiah tells them it is a holy day to eat and be joyful. “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:8-10). We must prayerfully discern the times and act. 

• “There is a time to be silent, and a time to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:7). 

Let’s use Esther as an example here. Mordecai recognized the time was short, so he asked Esther to use her royal status to act. He then says the book’s most memorable verse. 

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). 

It was not a time for Esther to be silent; it was a time to speak. After she fasted and prayed, she put her faith into action. Likewise, as intercessors, most of our prayer happens in the prayer closet, but there comes a time when we must put our prayers into action and take steps. Verse 3:8 says, “a time for war and a time for peace.” In Esther 8, the King’s edict said the Jews had a right to defend themselves and their families on an appointed day. It was a time for war. If they had tried to keep the peace, they would have been wiped out. 

• A time to plant and a time to uproot (Ecclesiastes 3:2).

Jeremiah was appointed as a prophet to uproot and tear down, and to build and plant (Jeremiah 1:10). In Jeremiah’s case, the nation was unfaithful to the Lord, and it would face judgment that would expose their hearts and their idolatry of gods that couldn’t deliver or protect them. Evil must be dealt with at the root and torn down; otherwise it returns. This is also a spiritual principle: when you don’t root out something evil, you plant it. Now you must lay a godly foundation and fill the spiritual void. Tearing it down makes way for the real work to begin: teaching the ways of the Lord. 

Generals of the faith sent intercessors into cities to pray heaven down before they preached and saw revival. Revivalist Charles G. Finney had two intercessor friends, Daniel Nash and Abel Clary, who went into the cities before Finney ever preached and wrestled in intercession, travail, and tears for days, praying for the Holy Spirit’s outpouring. Their intercession prepared the way for Finney to bring the Word to the people. Intercessory prayer often begins the work. It breaks open the way for the Lord’s purposes to be accomplished. 

What Do You Say?

Let me ask you a question about America. Do you think this is a time to cease intercession for the nation? Do you think this is a time for the church to be silent or speak out? Do you feel America is in a time of peace or war? If your spiritual eyes are open, you know that this is not a time to be silent or apathetic. Our inaction is why spiritual darkness is advancing. While babies are being killed up until birth, while people who hate America are being voted into office, and when cities in America are looking more like other countries, we are in a spiritual war that is manifesting physically in evil policies, celebrating and protecting evil, while condemning righteousness and godliness. Our faith, our freedoms, and the fate of future generations hang in the balance.

Intercession requires wisdom and discernment, so we don’t celebrate when God calls us to sackcloth and ashes. We do not feast when God calls us to fast, or rejoice when he calls for repentance. We cannot remain silent when God is calling us to cry out. We cannot plant when God is calling us to uproot, and we cannot build when He wants us to tear down. We must be a people who are led by the Spirit of God. 

Will you pray with us?

Father,

We come before You remembering the words of Your servant Daniel who said, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him. To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, because You have given me wisdom and power (Daniel 2:19-23). 

His prayer is our prayer. We bless You, Lord Most High! All honor and glory are Yours. Wisdom and power belong to You. And You said, “If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of the Lord, who gives freely without reproach.”  So I ask for wisdom and understanding like the sons of Issachar to discern the times and seasons. I know You alone are sovereign, and some things will not be revealed, but Your Word says You reveal deep and secret things, so I ask You to reveal what You want us to know and what You want us to do. I am asking for Your light to pierce the darkness in this nation. I ask You to remove the wrong “kings” in this nation and establish righteous ones in their place. Give wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. 

Open our spiritual eyes so we don’t miss God’s opportunities. Take away the dullness of hearing so we don’t miss Your instructions. Melt away any hardness of heart by unbelief, bitterness, or anything not of You, and keep our hearts tender enough to be broken over what breaks Your heart. Keep our faces like flint, unshaken by the enemy’s threats. Show us what must be torn down before we try to build. Show us what to plant after we have uprooted. Let us move according to Your times and seasons, with Your purposes in our minds and hearts, in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

What did you think of this article? Share your prayers and reflections below.

IFA contributing writer Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor and listen to her podcast, Something To Share. Photo Credit: Dee from ภาพของSakorn Sukkasemsakorn via Canva Business.