Beyond Your Wildest Dreams
Opening Prayer
God, thank You that You have such great dreams for us. Help us to walk in obedience so they come to pass.
Read 1 CHRONICLES 17:1-15
[1] After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.” [2] Nathan replied to David, “Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you.” [3] But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: [4] “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. [5] I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. [6] Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders whom I commanded to shepherd my people, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”‘ [7] “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. [8] I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men on earth. [9] And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning [10] and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies. “‘I declare to you that the LORD will build a house for you: [11] When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. [12] He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. [13] I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. [14] I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.'” [15] Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Are you dreaming God's dreams for your life?With the Ark settled David has another dream: he wants to build a structure to house it. He hints at the plan to Nathan, his court prophet, who tells him, understandably, to “go for it.” But God has other ideas and Nathan has the tricky job of going back to the king to say, “Excuse me, your majesty, what I said to you yesterday was wrong.”God also, it seems, has building ambitions that are far more ambitious than David’s. He plans to use David’s shepherd-leadership to gather, plant and grow a nation for his glory that will be the king’s legacy down the ages. “Forget the bricks and mortar, David, that will come later. This is far, far better.” God’s desire is that our lives, and our leadership, follow the line of our gifts. So often we try to do things for which we are not suited or even think that God is most pleased when we are working against the grain. Do you have plans? First, listen to God. He may want you to do what is in your heart, or he may have different ideas. Either way, the results will be breathtakingly better than your wildest dreams.
Apply
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…” (Eph. 3:20). We must ask.
Closing prayer
Glory to You, God, who has chosen to partner with us as You reconcile all things to Yourself.
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