When they arrived, they called the church together and related all that God had done with them, and how He had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. Acts 14:27 NRSV.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NKJV.

Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord. Psalm 107:43.

Our chapter, Daniel 4, is a letter from Nebuchadnezzar to all people of every language who live in all the earth. To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth: May you prosper greatly! It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are His signs, how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; His dominion endures from generation to generation. v. 1-3. He goes on to describe a dream that he had that made him afraid. He called all the wise men, told them his dream, but they could not interpret it for him so he called Daniel. But Daniel was deeply troubled by the dream because he understood from Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, what the dream meant. Nebuchadnezzar still had much to learn from God, that only Creator God is the true God. Nebuchadnezzar had renamed Daniel after one of his gods, Belteshazzar, and thought still that Daniel was helped by the spirit of the holy gods. Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds – Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth. Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’ This is the interpretation, your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that Heaven rules. Therefore, your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.” Can you imagine being told this after dreaming this dream? And yet, and the whole reason the dream was given…All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone He wishes.” v. 28-32. Immediately that was fulfilled. He was driven away from people, ate grass like the ox, lived outside with the dew of heaven on his body that had hair like the feathers of an eagle and nails like the claws of a bird. And so Nebuchadnezzar’s letter continued: At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified Him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does what He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?” At the same time my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything He does is right and all His ways are just. And those who walk in pride He is able to humble. v. 34-37.

What about my pride? What about yours? Reading this chapter and my devotionals, I had to keep stopping to pray to God to help me because I know the pride within me that keeps bubbling up and is ever ready to overflow within me. It’s like filthy rags that need to be washed and only Creator God can cleanse us from our sins that dwell deep within us. And we can trust all of them to Him; and as we do, He brings healing so needed by each one of us. And our healing allows the light of His love to shine brightly and bring hope and clarity within our souls. He restores us and helps us see. Creator God IS…and His love endures forever! How can you know? Turn to Him. Tell Him everything. Let His love do its good work within you…let His Spirit bring peace to the tumult within you…you are realizing your deepest need is for Him and it is good! Giving everything to Him brings healing. Trusting Him brings hope. Loving Him brings clarity and restoration and it is good! His love floods the darkness and it flees. His love reminds us we are His and dearly loved. Everything He does is for our good in Him and helps us as we live in this broken world with His help guiding us always. His ways are not our ways and our kingdoms are not His Kingdom and for that we can be truly grateful!