Thursday, February 7 2008

Beware the Trap

Did you know that you can be so obsessed with knowing God's will that you can be trapped in paralysis? Afraid to step out because you are not sure if it is God's will. I would wager that nearly everyone reading this post has struggled or is currently struggling with this issue and it's something we need to revisit now.

Some people are so obsessed with knowing God's will for their life they ask God what clothes to wear or what restaurant to eat at today. Can you imagine having adult kids that checked with you daily over simple matters like that? Now thankfully most of us aren't stuck in that rut, but still we wonder if the dream we have is of God or not. We want three signs, a prophecy and advance payment just to be sure! Where is your sense of adventure?!?!

When Solomon dedicated the temple, he quoted God who had previously said that He had "chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there, but I chose David..." (1 Kings ch.8) Solomon goes on to explain that it was David who had it in his heart to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. This was not something God ordered, but it was in David's heart and David perhaps more than any Old Testament figure delighted in God's presence and God delighted in him - and blessed the building of the temple.

Want to know if the dream you have or the work you are doing is God's will for your life? Do like Augustine suggested... Love God, and then do as you please. When you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart. The key is to truly love God, and then your desires will be in line.