God is sovereign, ruling over all creation. He is not only sovereign in his authority; he is sovereign over all wisdom (knowledge) and might (power).

Power belongs to God and wisdom belongs to God. No one has either unless God grants it to them. The great comfort that Daniel draws from this truth is this: it is God who changes the times and seasons on earth, and it is God who removes and sets up kings according to His pleasure.

We are often tempted to think inaccurately about these world events. We begin to think that the seasons change out of habit, because they have done so for thousands of years. However, this is not so. Because power and wisdom belong to God, even the changing of each season is a result of His active participation and guiding.

We might also, especially in democratic societies, begin to think that rulers are set up or brought down by popular vote, or effective fundraising. But, as Daniel reminds himself, God is the one who casts the deciding vote for or against any ruler. He may allow ungodly rulers into power in order to fulfill His own purposes (as He did in the days of Habakkuk), but He is still good and He is still sovereign.

The sovereignty of God leads Daniel to this exclamation of praise: blessed be the name of God for ever and ever. He is worthy of praise because He owns all wisdom and power, and He is forever worthy of praise because He will always be sovereign.

Today is a Day of Thanks giving, what are you thankful for?  We should be thankful for Jesus Christ who died on the Cross for our sins.

A lot of us forget where God has brought us from.  We murmur, complain and get upset at God because we feel that we need more and don’t have enough to make it day to day.

I wish every person; every Christian in the USA could go to a third world country one time in their life, just to see how blessed they really are.  When I was in Lagos Nigeria, I wept more then I ever have. I saw kids standing outside on the streets washing up with just a bucket and wash rag, it made me really realize that I should never complain.

Can I make this personal?  You should thank God for everything thing that you have, even if you think it’s not enough, it’s more than enough.

The Bible says in 1st Thessalonians 5:18

In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus

Last week I told my Leadership team, that Prosperity is everything God Gives you above food and shelter, but Prosperity is really everything God gives you above the air that you inhale.

People of God do not take what you have for granted, do not look at it as something owed to you, but instead look at it as a gift.

When someone gives you a gift our normal reply is to say thank you!

So Today Lord, I thank you for the air that I breathe, I thank you for the food that I eat. I thank you in the good times and I thank you in the bad times. I thank you for my wife. I thank you for my daughters. I thank you for my Mother, father, Sister and Brother. I thank you for my Church Family and I thank you from my friends. Most of all, I thank you for Dying on the Cross for me.

Lord if you never give me with another thing, if you have blessed me with my last blessing, I thank you for what you have already done.

By Kirt Eure

Pastor John MacArthur exposes Joel Osteen as a pagan religionist, a quasi-pantheist, and an agent of Satan. He critiques Joel’s book, quotes, and prayer and compares them with what the Bible teaches.

This is an excerpt from John MacArthur’s sermon, “A True Knowledge of the True God.” Used by permission. You can read the transcript, watch, or download the full video here: