Are You Resigned and Resolved?

Resigned and resolved to God's will, David relinquished his dream to build a house for the Ark of the Covenant.
In 1 Chronicles 28:2-4 we read: "Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. But God said to me, 'You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.'

Whew. It's painful when we have a dream...a NOBLE dream...and God says, "No. You are not to do that..."

I have experienced many seasons of longing to do something noble for God. I have experienced passions to fulfill great things and impact nations...and have heard the same "No."

In those moments, the Holy Spirit has tested my motives...will I surrender? Is my purpose to truly honor God or is there an underlying selfish motive? Will I relinquish "my plans" for "His plans?"

Will I rest in what God has called me to do...or sulk because I didn't get what I wanted?

I love David's response in verse four: He says, "Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah he chose my family, and from my father's sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel."

David accepted God's answer. He humbly recognized God's sovereignty and passes His dream on to His son. God revealed that David wouldn't get to fulfill his longing of building God's temple...but that his son, Solomon, would. So, David encourages His son saying, "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work." (NIV)

Friend, as I prayed today, I felt God plant this word in my heart and felt impressed to share it with you. I hope it encourages you, as much as it does me:

"I am the Lord Your God. I have chosen you for great things. Don't try to figure it out. Don't try to make it happen. Simply obey and follow where I lead. Don't plot in your own mind when or how My purposes will be fulfilled; instead, rest in me; follow where I lead; obey my voice; trust that I am able. I have chosen YOU. I have appointed you. And, I alone will do it. This is not for you to figure out. I will establish your footsteps. I will fulfill all of My promises. You only need to follow where I lead."

Ephesians 2:10 says, "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared long in advance for us to do."

You have purpose! YOU are loved. But even more important...GOD IS FAITHFUL! So rest in Him today, knowing HE has a plan and HE will fulfill it!

May we be resigned and resolved to God's will, and relinquish our dreams (no matter how seemingly noble they are) and embrace GOD'S DESIGN for our life.