S) "7 Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house 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 house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. 9 Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will be born to you, he shall build the house for My name.'"
2 Chronicles 6:7-9 (NASB)
O) Despite the fact that David was disqualified to build a house for God (because of the bloodshed accounted to him), his desire to build it was still good. God didn't rebuke him for wanting to do this good thing which he could not do, because the thing itself was still good, and David's motives were good. David had a vision for doing it, he had a passion to get it done. However, God would not let David build the temple. Instead, God gave that passion, vision, and mission to another. Instead, David was called to help his son get it done.
A) In my life, I have had strong passions to do various things. I can have a pretty determined mentality. That has served me well, with things like journaling and Bible study, or praying about something, everyday, until the thing is resolved. However, sometimes my determination backfires. My passion has turned to a form of idolatry more than once (like with videogames, for example). Sometimes, I have become passionate about something that is very good, like it was while I was a youth pastor. Even now, I still have a passion for helping young people. However, when my season as a youth pastor had come to an end, I wasn't immediately willing to let it go. Even though it was in my heart that young people should know Jesus Christ, and I did well to have that in my heart, it was not for me to build that ministry anymore. So, while one of the ways to discern direction in life, is to evaluate passions, married with abilities, that is not all there is to it. Sometimes, everything comes down to timing. That is something that only God can do. Right now, it is in my heart to get transferred to Montana. I have been in prayer about it for almost a year, together with my wife, and with others. That passion hasn't waned. Still, we must wait upon the Lord. Ultimately, even if I have done well in my heart to want this, and even if I have all of the resources and physical abilities to make such a move, if God doesn't want it to happen (even to say, happen yet), then I cannot try to force it to happen. There is enough biblical, anecdotal, and personal evidence to warn me against that.
A) In my life, I have had strong passions to do various things. I can have a pretty determined mentality. That has served me well, with things like journaling and Bible study, or praying about something, everyday, until the thing is resolved. However, sometimes my determination backfires. My passion has turned to a form of idolatry more than once (like with videogames, for example). Sometimes, I have become passionate about something that is very good, like it was while I was a youth pastor. Even now, I still have a passion for helping young people. However, when my season as a youth pastor had come to an end, I wasn't immediately willing to let it go. Even though it was in my heart that young people should know Jesus Christ, and I did well to have that in my heart, it was not for me to build that ministry anymore. So, while one of the ways to discern direction in life, is to evaluate passions, married with abilities, that is not all there is to it. Sometimes, everything comes down to timing. That is something that only God can do. Right now, it is in my heart to get transferred to Montana. I have been in prayer about it for almost a year, together with my wife, and with others. That passion hasn't waned. Still, we must wait upon the Lord. Ultimately, even if I have done well in my heart to want this, and even if I have all of the resources and physical abilities to make such a move, if God doesn't want it to happen (even to say, happen yet), then I cannot try to force it to happen. There is enough biblical, anecdotal, and personal evidence to warn me against that.
P) Father, please open my eyes and ears. Please lead me, by the Holy Spirit within me, to know where to move. Everything in me is telling me that change is coming. I have a strong desire in my heart to transfer out to Montana. But, I don't want to move without Your lead. Whether I move to Montana, or move to another city closer to work, or even if I stay in the place I am for much longer than I expect, I only want to follow Your lead. I want what You want, God. I think my heart is in the right place, but I invite Your correction about that, Father. If my motives are wrong, please reveal it to me, because I want to repent of wrong motives. I desire to put my family in the best place for them. I desire to be in community, to find and foster good friendships for my kids. If there is any selfishness, or pride, or anything else hidden in my heart, I invite You to expose it in me. However, even if my motives are good, and it's good for my heart to want to move, I also know that it may still be outside of Your will. So, I submit to You, Lord. I humble myself to Your plans, Your timing. Please give me wisdom, that I may lead my family well. Thank You for blessing us, for the way You have been to us until now. Thank You for the blessings I have, even this day, where I am. Help me to choose contentment, and to choose patience. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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