There’s this moment in Book of Daniel—chapter 10—that feels like someone pulled back the curtain.
Just for a second.
And you realize…
Oh.
There’s more going on here than we thought.
Daniel has been praying. Waiting. Fasting. Wondering if anyone is even listening.
And then the messenger finally shows up.
But not with a simple, “Hey, God heard you on day one.”
No—he says:
“I was delayed.”
Delayed?
By who?
“The prince of the kingdom of Persia resisted me twenty-one days…” (Daniel 10:13)
Wait… what?
A prince?
Not a human one.
Something else.
Something darker – behind the scenes.
And suddenly the world isn’t as flat as we thought it was.
It’s layered.
There are conversations happening we can’t hear.
Conflicts unfolding we can’t see.
Decisions being influenced in ways we rarely consider.
Think about it.
Empires rise.
Governments make decisions—some that bring life, justice, flourishing…
…and others that leave you scratching your head, wondering, How did we get here?
What if Daniel 10 is hinting that there are forces—real forces—contending, influencing, pressing in on human decisions?
Not controlling.
But influencing.
Whispering.
Pulling.
And then it gets even more intense.
Because in verse 20, the messenger says:
“I will return to fight… and when I go, the prince of Greece will come.”
So this isn’t a one-time conflict.
It’s ongoing.
Layer after layer.
Generation after generation.
Kingdom after kingdom.
There’s always another “prince.”
Another influence.
Another battle.
Which is why centuries later, Epistle to the Ephesians says it plainly:
“We do not wrestle against flesh and blood…”
Not people.
Not your boss.
Not your spouse.
Not your kid.
Not that friend who said the thing.
“…but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness…”
So let’s just ask it.
What if we could pull the curtain back?
Like really pull it back.
In your world.
Your house.
Your conversations this week.
Your stress.
Your reactions.
That tension with your spouse.
That moment with your kids.
That situation at work.
That lingering frustration with a friend.
What would you see?
Would it just be personalities clashing?
Or would there be something else?
Something pressing for division.
For misunderstanding.
For pride.
For fear.
For control.
And here’s where it gets personal.
Because if there are forces at work…
Then the question becomes:
How do they gain ground?
Proverbs gives us a clue:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” (Proverbs 18:21)
Not just actions.
Words.
Words are agreement.
Words are alignment.
Words are participation.
Every time you speak, you’re not just describing reality…
You’re shaping it.
You can walk into a room and, with a sentence, bring life.
Or with a sentence, drain it.
You can speak hope into your child…
Or reinforce the lie they already fear is true.
You can honor your spouse…
Or slowly erode the foundation of trust.
You can build up…
Or you can partner with destruction.
James doesn’t pull punches:
“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves…” (James 1:26)
That’s strong.
Because it means spirituality isn’t just what you believe.
It’s what you say.
And then he doubles down:
“With the tongue we bless our Lord… and with it we curse people… this should not be.” (James 3:9–10)
It’s like James is saying:
Pick a side.
Not in some dramatic, movie-scene way.
But in the quiet, everyday, ordinary words you speak.
Because spiritual warfare isn’t always loud.
It’s not always dramatic.
It’s not always obvious.
Sometimes it sounds like:
“That’s just how they are.”
“They’ll never change.”
“I’m done trying.”
“This is hopeless.”
And sometimes it sounds like:
“I still believe in you.”
“We’re going to work through this.”
“God’s not finished here.”
“There’s more possible than we can see.”
Same situation.
Different voice.
Different outcome.
So maybe spiritual warfare isn’t just resisting the devil in some abstract, distant way…
Maybe it’s choosing, moment by moment:
Which voice am I going to echo?
Because the battle…
is for influence.
Your thoughts.
Your attitude.
Your reactions.
Your decisions.
And your words?
They reveal exactly who you’re agreeing with.
So today—
Pay attention.
Not just to what’s happening around you…
But to what’s coming out of you.
Because you might be doing more than talking.
You might be participating in a war you can’t see.
And your words?
They’re not neutral.
They never were.
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