based on the LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land / w3d4
Scripture, The Road Map for Our Journey / Daniel 4:18-27 (26); Luke 18:9-14
They said to leave the taproot of the tree, for your kingdom will be restored to you when you come to understand that heaven rules. Daniel 4:26
Can you imagine being in Daniel’s position and having to explain to the king that not only was he going to be insane for a period of time—living like a wild animal—but he also had to convey to the king that he was merely a man? Nebuchadnezzar must understand that God, or as Daniel phrases it, “Heaven” rules.
Daniel makes it clear to the king that his kingdom will be restored only when Nebuchadnezzar truly understands that the God of Heaven rules over all powers and dominions.
True power is not found in Babylon, but in Heaven. The supreme Lord is not Nebuchaadnezzar, but the Lord God.
bibleref.com/Daniel 4:26
I love the commentary found in the journal for today’s portion of our journey –
“We can easily read this and think that God is being cruel, but He is not. Instead, He is more like a loving father who is warning his child, “unless your attitude changes, I am going to have to take away the thing you love for a while until you understand.” King Nebuchadnezzar would be humbled. It would take him the full seven years to realize that it is actually God who rules and who has given him wealth and power.” – LGG Journal / Living Faithful in a Faithless Land, p109
Of course, we are not kings or rulers, but we must still live with the understanding that God in Heaven rules.
Prayer of Response for the Jurney / borrowed from p109 of the Journal
Heavenly Father, Creator of the universe and ruler of all. You give, and you take away. All of my days are in your hands. Lord, I thank you for the many blessings and gifts you have given me. I confess there are times when I am foolishly proud when I should be humble and acknowledge Your provision. Transform my proud ways that I may bring glory to You. Amen.
The More We Know About the Journey
Friends, I hope you will check out one of my favorite books, HEAVEN RULES. Two words are sometimes all it takes to upset and overwhelm us. Words like: treatment options, work layoffs, election season, pandemic spikes, family trouble, car repairs. They take up so little room, just two little words, and yet they can fill the whole day, the whole house, our whole lives with anxiety and fear.
Heaven Rules is the two-word answer for every two-word worry. The promise we need for every wave of trouble, every assault on our peace of mind. Heaven’s rule is God’s rule: His rule over nations and nature. His rule over renegade viruses, cancer, and concerns about your marriage, your kids, your job, and everything else. The Bible says God is personally, purposefully involved in all that’s taking place here on earth. He’s reigning over each tear and scar and crisis and conflict. Heaven is ruling, always ruling. That doesn’t mean we won’t experience distress, but it does mean we can find a refuge by looking upward and letting His peace rule in our hearts.
Using the timeless book and example of Daniel as a guide, author Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth reveals how seeing our lives and world through the lens of Heaven’s rule can shield us from panic and give us renewed hope and perspective.
Job worries. Deadline pressures. Deep regrets. Culture wars. There will always be alarms screeching. But two simple words can quiet them, calm our fears, comfort our hearts, and give us courage to press on: Heaven Rules! I encourage you to check it out HERE
Me From the Inside Out 