The Bible provides us with abundant instruction on how to pray, giving us ample biblical models to examine and emulate. Daniel’s prayer is one such model, providing us with five essential elements of effective prayer.

Daniel’s vision of the despotic, demonic reign of Antiochus IV is a foreshadowing of the future reign of the Antichrist. And in both cases, the saints are called to persevere.

How do the saints persevere in faith and the proclamation of the gospel while the beasts rampage and roar, devour and destroy? By taking our eyes off of the beasts and the beast, and fixing them upon the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man.

God’s faithfulness in the past empowers our prayers for God’s faithfulness in the future.