Scripture to Read: Daniel 4:20–26
As Daniel shared the interpretation of the dream in Daniel 4:20–22 with Nebuchadnezzar, it started out quite positive. But then, in Daniel 4:23–25, Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar what God’s plan was to humble Nebuchadnezzar. God loves us so much that He’ll do whatever it takes to get our attention so that we humble ourselves before Him and walk with Him daily. God revealed that He was going to work on Nebuchad¬nezzar to wake him up to the reality of Daniel 2:37–38, that Nebuchadnezzar was king because God put him there. God will use many tests and trials in our lives to get our attention. That does not mean that every trial or test we go through is to accomplish the same result because when we examine God’s Word on trials and tribulations, we see that there are many reasons God sends us into trials. Sometimes, it’s not even for some obvious sin in our life. God will send storms to correct us and storms to perfect us. God lovingly corrects us because we are His children. God tells us this in Hebrews 12:5–11, and He reminds us that His discipline “yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Remember what God did with Jonah? Jonah was told to go preach to Nineveh, but Jonah got on a boat and went in the opposite direction. We know how God dealt with Jonah, and by the time Jonah was vomited out of the mouth of the fish, his attitude had changed, and he willingly obeyed God’s command. God made His plan clear through Daniel.
Challenge & Application
• What are some of the reasons why God puts us through tests and trials?
• What tests and trials has God used in your life to either correct you or perfect you?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!