This semester at Renewed Moms (a women’s Bible study I’m a part of) we are inductively studying the book of Daniel. Today, while observing chapter 4, marking up the words for Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar and God, I had another Aha moment confirming what I saw earlier this week.

Look with me at the very last verse of the chapter, verse 37.

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. (NIV)

This is the very same Nebuchadnezzer, who in verse 30 was bragging about great Babylon, which he had built by his own mighty power and for the glory of his own majesty!  The Lord intervened and humbles him. The Most High took away from him all these things that he had worked so hard for and which gave him such pride, until after seven long years, Nebuchadnezzar “raised [his] eyes toward heaven, and [his] sanity was restored. Then [he] praised the Most High; [he] honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.” (v. 34 NIV)

God indeed opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. He exalts those who humble themselves before him. I fear that in my never ending desire to glorify God, I too often end up glorifying myself, and in trying to be “all that I can be,” I forget that I can do no good thing apart from Him.

As Psalm 34:3 says, “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.”

Let us pray together for meek and gentle spirits, for hearts that seek to praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven who does everything right and who is always just and who is faithful to humble the proud.

And, our nation needs prayer.  We need to be praying for the leadership of our country to recognize that God’s dominion is indeed eternal and that His kingdom is the only one that endures forever, from generation to generation.

Please, stop whatever you’re doing right now, and pray.