Don't Take the Lord for Granted

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By Perryn Rice

Story Published: Nov 17, 2011 at 2:10 PM CDT

Story Updated: Nov 17, 2011 at 2:10 PM CDT

 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything God does is right and all God’s ways are just. And those who walk in pride God is able to humble.” Daniel 4:37

 
It is so easy to take God’s blessings for granted.
 
It is so easy to slip into a state of consciousness that screams “I deserve to have it good!” It is so easy to look at ourselves and then look at God and believe we are in a position to make “deals” with God. It is easy to treat God like some genie that we control. It’s easy to do these things because God is so generous and gracious.
 
But God is also just. Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon. He conquered Judah and exiled many to Babylon. But his rise to power was not by his own doing. He had occasions to accept God and God’s power, but all he did was acknowledge that God existed, which is not enough. Next he would take the credit for Babylon’s success when it was actually God who gave it to him. There are many things that you do well.
 
Some of those things you do better than anyone you know.
 
But you can’t do anything without the Lord.
 
This is what Nebuchadnezzar discovered; because as the Lord gives, the Lord can also take away. Nebuchadnezzar lost his throne and his sanity. He lived in the field as animals do. His royal appearance changed to that of a beast. Finally he said, “I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified God who lives forever…God’s kingdom endures from generation to generation” (Daniel 4:34). Have you been too busy becoming a better you that you have forgotten that there is no better you without our great God?
 
The Lord is not to be taken for granted, but glorified. If we are humble today and every day, the Lord will make those days great. 

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