Friday, May 14, 2010

2010 – May 14 – The Best Laid Plans

Study from God’s Word 1st Kings 8: 1-11 [2nd Chron. 5: 2-14]; 1st Kings 8: 12-21 [2nd Chron. 6: 1-11]; 1st Kings 8: 22-30 [2nd Chron. 6: 12-21]; 1st Kings 8: 31,-53 [2nd Chron. 6: 22-42]; 1st Kings 8: 54-61; 2nd Chronicles 7: 1-3; 1st Kings 8: 62-66 [2nd Chron. 7: 4-10] … Passage for Reflection: 2nd Chronicles 6: 8 – 9 … NIV [Solomon] 7 "My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 8 But the LORD said to my father David, … ‘Because it was in your heart to build a temple for my Name, you did well to have this in your heart. 9 Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, who is your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’ …”

My Journal for Today: As I read through the wondrous accomplishment of Solomon overseeing the completion and dedication of the Temple his father, David, had dreamed to dedicate for the Lord’s glory, one can’t help but think about God not allowing David to be the one to bring this temple to fruition. But that was not to be in God’s planning; and I expect you may have had some great dream or idea, one which may have been, upon completion, a great way of glorifying God; but thus far in your life, and for the foreseeable future, it just doesn’t look like it’s in God’s scheme for your dream to become reality.

Dr. Smith points to two of Solomon’s Proverbs which seem to point to the dreaming and fulfillment of projects which are dedicated to God and His glory. In Proverbs 16: 3 we read, Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. And then, there is Proverbs 19: 21, stating, Many are the plans in man’s heart; but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

As my devotional shepherd, F. LaGard Smith, points out, somehow when we dream up something which seems like a grand and Godly idea to bring glory to God, and then we put choices and actions into motion to make it happen, we must realize that God is still in control of all things; and it should be God Whom we allow to take charge of the timing and completion of HIS project. If we want to be in charge of the project, how much glory can God really get from its completion?

But Solomon repeatedly, in his dedication ceremony and prayers, gave his father both credit and affirmation for the project of which David conceived but was not given the opportunity to finish in his lifetime. Perhaps you still have some idea or dream which is yet to be completed; but it seems to be something that would glorify God big-time if your idea were to come to completion. I have always had dreams that BattlePlan Ministries, the ministry which God led me to found, would become so powerful that the XXX forces in the world would be defeated and eradicated; but for years my eyes have been way bigger than my stomach. But I refuse to stop dreaming that God can - AND WILL - bring down the strongholds and beachheads of sexual sin which we see proliferating in our culture. The fact that I haven’t been the leader force to bring that about does not diminish the dream; nor does it reduce God in any way. God can – AND WILL – bring about His victory … in HIS time and in HIS way; and HE will be glorified.

What I must do is continue to dream and pray for someone, like a Solomon, to take the dream and allow God to get the glory whenever God decides to bring about the dream … again, for His glory!

My Prayer for Today: Lord, it is the dream You planted in my soul; and I pray that one day, with the leader You have already designated, all the evil forces in this world which now have such a stronghold in our culture will be totally and glorious eradicated. Amen

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