As a little girl, I had dreams.
Dreams for love, marriage, beauty, acceptance, friendship, position and accomplishments. Some have been fulfilled, others have fallen short of my hopeful imaginings.
Today, as I look around and see others possessing what I had purposed, sometimes it's hard. It's difficult to see another living my dream. The longing is still there, yet it's realization is lacking. For some reason the Lord has decided that, like David, He can entrust me with a vision that requires my prayer and preparation, but not my participation. Sometimes it's the right idea, but at the wrong time. David's son would receive the honour.
How do you feel as you watch your dream being fulfilled by another?
Is there a tinge of resentment and jealousy, or can you truly rejoice with those who rejoice?
We see what God longs for our response to be just a few verses later.
"Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought." 1 Chronicles 28:9
A whole heart worship and willing mind service.
Often He must purify motives of ambition in us to bring us in line with His plans. Our self-serving, self-seeking nature needs refining and refusing so that His name alone will be praised.
God raised David up as a King and warrior, but not a builder.
Is there a dream the Lord is asking you to surrender and even pass on to someone else? Maybe your role will be to train another, or like David, raise a child, to fulfill your dream.
Can you sing with the song writer, "All to Jesus, I surrender, all to Him I freely give?"
One of the hardest things for us to experience might be to prepare for the building of the dream, but not be one of the construction crew.
"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain." Psalm 127:1
Although God does not call everyone to build temples, we have been given special abilities and talents with which to honour the Lord. We were made specifically and purposefully for His high calling. Praying today that the Lord will be gentle with my misplaced and mistaken desires as I embrace His marvelous dreams for me.
"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." Romans 12:6-8
"Hard as it seems
Standing in dreams
Where is the dreamer now
Wonder if I
Wanted to try
Would I remember how
I don't know the way to go from here
But I know that I have made my choice
And this is where I stand
Until He moves me on
And I will listen to His voice
This is the faith
Patience to wait
When there is nothing clear
Nothing to see
Still we believe
Jesus is very near
I can not imagine what will come
But I've already made my choice
And this is where I stand
Until He moves me on
And I will listen to His voice
Could it be that He is only waiting there to see
If I will learn to love the dreams that He has dreamed for me
Can't imagine what the future holds
But I've already made my choice
And this is where I stand
Until He moves me on
And I will listen to His voice"
(Twila Paris - I Will Listen)
6 comments:
Wow, Joy...I never saw the connection! "God raised David up as a King and warrior, but not a builder." He wanted so badly to build the temple, too! And, God chooses our talents that he wishes us to live out in order to honor him. Our dreams may not be his dreams! Boy, to ponder over this. Thank you for your writings today!
Really gives me more to think about!!
Lori - AZ
Joy, it seems that your recent posts have all been causing me to look inward and search my thoughts and my motives. I am realizing that perhaps I have more bad feelings and disappointments over dreams not realized than I care to admit. On the other hand, had a few of those dreams come true I would probably be living a different life and not be the person I am today. Some of the things that I wanted years ago I suppose God knew would not be good for me. Other things have not come to pass because I've just been too stinking lazy to make it happen!
You've given me lots to think about dear Joy!
Thanks!
Marilyn
I have bowed in sorrow sometimes as I realized that He was asking me to lay down the dream I dreamed for me... only to realize the incredible joy of living the dream He dreamed for me!
Standing still so I can hear His voice!
Beautiful insight, I think most can relate with the rocky waters of "what is my purpose and am in His will?" or "my calling is 'less than' hers".
God looks at things so differently than we do. I like the idea that we dream dreams for our children though. It reminds me of Joseph telling his ancestors to take his bones to the promised land. Kind of a connecting thread tying his faith to the future generations.
Great post! As we lay down our soulish desires God will either replace them or solidify them with His, and then we will know that His desires have become ours! For there is no greater fulfillment than to know we are walking in His ways!
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