"Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity."

Believers must know where to get family or personal counsel, not from people with familiar spirit, not from wizards that peep and mutter, not people who don't know God's word but from Spirit filled men and women of God, who always seeks the face of God, listening to His voice and promoting Godly living in families. "And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them." (Isaiah 8:19,20).

Nebuchadnezzar was under God's impending judgement. He was to face the judgement within 12 months and God revealed to him and also sent Daniel to interpret to him and counsel him but Nebuchadnezzar couldn't take heed. (Daniel 4:28,29,33).

Though we were not told of his wives but we know that himself, his son, Evilmerodach, (2 Kings 25:27; Jeremiah 25:31) and his grandson, Belshazzar, lived a despicable life following the same pattern of living that dishonor and disregard God. The record of his grandson shows how he desecrated the temple using the golden cups to drink before his idols until God spoke to him "MENE, MENE (God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it), TEKEL (Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting, UPHARSIN (PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians). (Daniel 5:25-30)

Often, the parents life always robs on the children and the whole family like Jacob, the supplanter, after cheating his brother Esau, he ran to Laban, when he saw Laban fast deceitful games, he played faster on Laban. Eventually, Rachel stole his father's idol hid it and lied (Genesis 31:19, 34) and Reuben the first son of Jacob went to have affairs with the father's wife, Simeon and Levi lied to cruelly murder the Shechemites. Deceitfulness continues to run in the family of Jacob but Jacob name was changed from supplanter to Israel when he wrestled in prayer like Jabez. (Genesis 32:27,28; 1 Chronicles 4:10)

When God was to punish Abimelech, He allowed all the women in the family to be sick because the ungodliness of Abimelech has eaten deep into his family and they were together in the suffering as the were together in the evils. (Genesis 20:17,18)

God warned the Israelites as a family "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow." (Isaiah 1:16,17)

Daniel's counsel to Nebuchadnezzar was in three perspective, firstly he told Nebuchadnezzar to "break off" his chain of sins, secondly to show mercy so that he can obtain mercy from God, thirdly, this earlier two actions, if observed decisively, will give him a lengthening of his tranquility (peace), his life and his reign.

1. Breaking-off the Mighty Locks Inflaming the Family

Daniel 4:27; Isaiah 45:2-4; Psalm 107:16-20

Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar to "break off" not to waste time looking for keys to open the lock because judgement is so close. He is to break off all the sins by righteousness or godliness. Our deliverance is in our hand when we do what God want us to do. Naaman came with pride to the man of God (2 Kings 5:1,10-14) but God needed to break his pride by humility so that he can get his healing.

We must do what God wants in our homes to unlock Godliness and expels things that inflames the family causing children to be disobedient, causing husband and wife to live like cat and rat at home. Your children can't obey you when you're not godly because the scriptures commands children to obey their parents only in the Lord (Ephesians 6:1). God cannot answer your prayers when you don't honour your wife. (1 Peter 3:7). Wives can't enjoy beauty in their home if all they care about is outward decorations without inward holiness and Godliness. (1 Peter 3:3,4)

2. Begging for Mercy to Loose all Infirmities in the Family

Daniel 4:27

Another counsel of Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar centers on mercy.

It is not time to begin blame game like Adam blamed Eve, Eve blames the serpent. There's always someone to blame but anyone who wants a change in His family must begin to plead for mercy for his/her family to be free from infirmities, failures, fruitlessness, famine, fighting, futility, fretting.

David after he had committed immorality with Uriah's wife and killed Uriah did not begin to blame Bathsheba for exposing herself but cried to God for mercy. (Psalm 51:1-5)

This is the time to confess whatever you're hiding from your husband, wife, parents, children if you want to get real mercy from God and open the door of godliness in your family. "Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16)

3. Beginning the Modeled Lifetime of Investment in the Family

Daniel 4:27

Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar to accept the counsel because it is from God and will lengthen his tranquility (peace). That is, the doomsday will be postponed for him to enjoy his reign in peace for as long as he continues to "...break off thy (his) sins by righteousness, and thine (his) iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor..."

When Ahab humbled himself (1 Kings 21:29), God shifted the punishment he was supposed to suffer forward meaning that if he continues in that Godliness, God will continue to shift the punishment until he will escape it completely and anyone in his generation that choose to live in ungodliness will suffer the punishment of Ahab. Hezekiah prayed and God postponed his death till 15 years latter (2 Kings 20:1,2,5,6)

Your decision will determine what God will do to your family. Taking good and godly care of your family will give you unspeakable peace and tranquility. Your decision must be to get committed to your family affairs by breaking all ungodly chains with righteousness asking for God's mercy on your family to begin a new lifetime of commitment and investment into your family. You can't keep running away from home, east or west, home is the best and you must make your home the best place for you to stay and for others to come and witness Godliness in your home.