There is a painting, at the National Gallery of Art, of Daniel in the Lions’ Den by Sir Peter Paul Rubens. Daniel, because of his diet and rigid schedule, was probably, most likely ripped. Far greater than his external physique was his internal resilience. His persistence was unparalleled, as evidenced by his habit of getting on his knees three times daily and praying through an open window facing Jerusalem. Even when King Darious outlawed prayer, Daniel continued to stop and pray three times a day.
Now when Daniel Learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Few people prayed with more consistency than Daniel, and what makes his persistence so remarkable is that he knew that his dream of rebuilding Jerusalem wouldn’t be fulfilled during his lifetime. Daniel prophesied that it would take seventy years depression of Jerusalem to come to an end.
Is it possible for a man to dream continuously for seventy years?
Daniel never stopped dreaming and praying because he had a vision for the future. He was looking beyond the captivity to the restoration of Jerusalem. Daniel knew his prayers would not be answered for seventy years, yet he prayed with urgency.
This may seem frustrating but this is what the vision of a missionary looks like. Many missionaries will never see the fruits of their labor, yet the pray continuously and work like it depends on them. We live in a culture that overvalues fifteen minutes of fame and undervalues a lifetime of faithfulness.
Teddy
