OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2026

TOPIC: PRIDE COMES BEFORE A FALL I

MEMORISE:

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Psalm 10:4

READ: Daniel 4:29-37

29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.

34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

MESSAGE

God made Nebuchadnezzar a great king, but pride entered into his heart, and he began to parade himself as a self-made man. God admonished him to be careful and make his way right (Daniel 4:1-27), but he didn’t heed the counsel. He woke up one morning and began to boast, “Look at the empire I have built; see how far my wisdom and understanding have brought me.” God looked at him from heaven and said, “Alright, mighty king, I am removing you from your kingdom. Go and join the animals in the field for seven years. Eat with them, and look like them, then we will know who is really in charge.” Immediately, the king lost his senses and joined the animals in the field. After seven years, however, the merciful God restored his senses, and he praised the most High God.

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

Daniel 4:34

As soon as he acknowledged the Most High as the One with all dominion and authority, the glory of his kingdom was restored to him.

At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

Daniel 4:36

Romans 1:28 says that because some people chose not to retain God in their knowledge, He gave them over to a reprobate mind to do things which are not convenient. When people refuse to acknowledge God’s power, might, and authority over all of creation, they begin to act like animals or even worse. For example, in recent times, we have seen men who call themselves women and have even gone as far as surgically removing their private parts so that they can appear as women, and some women doing likewise. People who engage in such depraved behaviour have failed to retain God in their knowledge and have been giver over to reprobate minds.

Beloved, acknowledge God in all your ways and shun pride. Those who allow pride in any form into their hearts are only giving the devil a chance to destroy them.

KEY POINT

Pride debases people and makes them think and act like animals.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Daniel 9-12

Hymn 18: PRAISE TO THE LORD THE ALMIGHTY

1. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation:

Join the great throng psaltery, organ and song sounding in glad adoration.

2. Praise to the Lord, over all things he gloriously reigneth:

Borne as on eagle-wings, safely his saints, He sustaineth

Has thou not seen, How all thou needest hath been Granted in what he ordaineth?

3. Praise to the Lord, Who doth prosper thy way and defend thee;

Surely his goodness and mercy shall ever attend thee;

ponder anew, What the almighty can do Who with his love doth befriend thee.

4. Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!

All that has breath join with Abraham’s Seed to adore him!

Let the Amen, sum all our praises again; Now as we worship before him.