As I came to the Word of God in my quiet time, I was feeling kind of down about a particular situation. Then, the Lord taught me something powerful in my reading from the Daily Walk Bible today. Maybe you noticed it also in your reading.

King Nebuchadnezzar was looking across the vast city of Babylon and came to the conclusion that he had built it by his own power as an expression of his royal splendor (Daniel 4:30). Well, as a result, he lost his power, his rule, and was driven from human society. A voice came from heaven saying, “Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone He chooses” (Daniel 4:32). Then, the text goes on to say that “after this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the One who lives forever…Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble those who are proud” (Daniel 4:37). His kingdom was returned to him and he was reestablished as king.

Only eight verses of reading, but they reveal a powerful truth for us. When the king looked out into the world, he was led astray—when he looked up to heaven, he was restored, renewed, and reestablished. I wonder if you need renewal today? I believe that every day we need personal spiritual revival. And where can we find it? By looking up to heaven. When you look out in the world and that is all you see, you can come to wrong conclusions and miss the reality in a circumstance—when you look up to heaven, you see what is true and real—that God is on the throne, He is sovereign, He has a plan for your life, and He is in control. And so, let us together this day, look up to heaven—open the Word of God, talk with Him, and praise and worship Him with the words of Nebuchadnezzar: “His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal. All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He has the power to do as he pleases among the angels of heaven and with those who live on earth. No one can stop him or challenge him…” (Daniel 4:34-35).