I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” . . . Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Dan. 4:34-37
Dear Lord Jesus, I so relate to Nebuchadnezzar’s story. Yet again, I find myself needing a fresh vision of your unassailable sovereignty and your inexhaustible goodness. There are two places of insanity, or “crazy,” I tend to fall into. Sometimes, like King Nebuchadnezzar, I arrogantly think I’m in control, and I get preoccupied with my little fiefdom of “self”. Other times I act like the consummate orphan—as though I don’t have a Father in heaven and a secure place in his family. Both of these extremes contradict the gospel I trust and the kingdom I love.
But Lord Jesus, you’re the only King that’s really in control, and only your kingdom will endure from generation to generation. You’re a hands on, fully engaged Savior, not a spiritual cheerleader or life-coach, pulling for us from afar. You’re the King of glory, beauty, compassion, mercy, and grace—all marshaled towards us. You’re the King who died for us, was raised for us, is praying for us, and is returning for us. You’re the King who totally loves, and thoroughly protects us.
Right now, you’re working all things together after the counsel of your will; and you’re working in all things, for our good and your glory. Right now, you don’t just have the heart of every king in your hand; you have our hearts as well. Right now, you do as you please with all the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth, and with us. Right now, everything you do is right and just, even when it’s not easy. Right now, it’s awesome and comforting to be yours—objects of your affection and subjects in your kingdom. So very Amen I pray, right now, in your loving and trustworthy name.
