For three weeks, Daniel prayed.

He saw no sign.

He heard no answer.

But from the first day, his words were heard.

I set my heart toward heaven I bowed beneath

the weight I asked for understanding

Then learned what it meant to wait

The first day passed in silence

The seventh brought no sign

Still I remained before you

Still I sought your mind The

silence was not empty The waiting was not still Beyond the

reach of mortal sight Heaven moved according to your will

Delayed, not denied Heaven heard me when I cried Though the

answer crossed a battlefield Beyond my human eyes I will stand

through every silence I will pray through every night What was

heard upon the first day was delayed But not denied

A messenger was moving Through realms I

could not see But Persia's prince opposed him

And held him back from me

For 21 Long evenings

The darkness Barred the way Yet

heaven Had not turned From me The answer Still

remained The battle Was not visible, the silence was not

peace The road between the prayer and answer shook beneath unseen

authority Delayed, not denied, heaven heard me

when I cried Though the answer crossed a battlefield beyond my

human eyes I will stand through every silence I will pray

through every night What was heard upon the first day was

delayed But not denied From the first day your words were

heard From the first day your words were heard Then

Michael came to help him. One chief prince entered the way.

No boast arose before him. No mortal word was raised. He

turned toward the resistance. The darkness faced his stand. The

messenger continued and reached me where I prayed.

Keep praying through the silence, keep standing through the night You

do not know what moves beyond the limits of your sight

The first day was not wasted, the waiting was not vain

Heaven heard the words you whispered before you saw the change

Heard from the first day Held through the delay Heaven had

not turned away Delay Not denied Still the answer moved unseen

I had no strength remaining I fell beneath the sight Then

one who came from heaven Reached down and made me rise.

Fear not greatly, beloved. Peace be unto thee. Be strong, be

strong. And strength return to me.

Delayed, not denied. Heaven heard me when I cried. Though the

answer crossed a battlefield beyond my human eyes I will trust

through every silence I will pray through every night What was

heard upon the first day was delayed But not denied From

the first day, your words were heard From the first day,

your words were Delayed

But not denied