Lift Your Eyes to Heaven

Daily Reading: Daniel 4

At the end of the days 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. (Daniel 4.34)

Devotional Thought: Daniel 4, our chapter for today, opens with Nebuchadnezzar praising God after the wonderful miracle of the three Hebrew men surviving the fiery furnace.  Nebuchadnezzar’s praise to God, however, is short-lived as he soon returns to his former pride and arrogance.  God had warned him about this in a dream, but Nebuchadnezzar ignored the warning and found himself humiliated: losing his sanity, his authority, and his dignity.  In this state of madness, Nebuchadnezzar behaved as a wild animal. 

Thanks to the mercy of God, Nebuchadnezzar got a second chance.  After seven years, he returned to his senses and acknowledged that God rules over all the kingdoms of men.  According to his own testimony, “I… lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me.”

He lifted his eyes to heaven.  How many mistakes could be avoided if we only lifted our eyes to heaven!  How much pain would be set aside if we only lifted our eyes to heaven!  How many of our problems would be solved if we would lift our eyes to heaven!  When we look upon earth, our solutions are earthly.  When we look upon earth, we see the trouble and the troublemakers.  When we look upon earth, our eyes are filled with envy, or our hearts are given to despair.  But when we lift our eyes to heaven, we see all the possibilities of an endless God!  Faith returns as we consider him who lives forever.  We make ourselves subjects of his everlasting dominion.

Do not wait for “the end of the days,” but begin each day by lifting your eyes to heaven!

Prayer: Blessed are you, Most High, who lives forever.  Your dominion is an everlasting dominion, and your kingdom endures from generation to generation.  You are praised and honored forever.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 67.1-7

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah

2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.

3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!

4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!

6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us.

7 God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!