With the year coming to an end it’s quite natural to reflect on the year, all the achievements and make new plans for the coming year. You are probably already planning your vacations for next year, thinking about destinations or thinking about going back to school, writing exams starting a business or whatever else you have planned. This time of the year can also be a little nerve wrecking, particularly when you have had some prayer request that don’t seem to have been answered, and with only less and less time left in the year it doesn’t seem likely that the current year will birth a miracle for you. With the world shouting out about goal setting and writing resolutions that will result in success, we might feel that we should have taken matters into our own hands instead of relying on God to make changes. With all this in mind how can we prepare in a godly way, so as to be inspired with fresh faith for the year ahead?
If you’ve had a few years now that have not ended in the way that you expected, in spite of making smart goals and well thought out plans, the question that might be playing on your heart might be whether goal setting is a godly practice. Maybe we should trust God in prayers and see what he will do?
Proverbs 3: 5 and 6 admonishes us to,
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (New Living Translation)
The obvious meaning we take away from this scripture is that we need to totally depend on and trust in God for direction and instruction. This is very true, but it also means that we need to have plans, an idea of what it is we want to do. You can’t trust God for the goals you want to achieve if you don’t have any! Smart Goals are God given goals and should therefore always be in line with our God given potential and purpose. For instance, becoming a Pastor of a new church plant aimed at reaching the unchurched is a godly vision. However, if your potential is to start a local business or perhaps it is to become an influential politician, you will quickly find that you are executing the wrong goals with the wrong tools.
King David desired to build God a temple, a place where God could dwell. The ark of the covenant had been the only physical place that represented the presence of God since the days of Joshua. This ark had been moved from place to place and never had a designated resting place apart from the large tent project commissioned by Moses. David’s passion for God inspired him to build a place for God. A glorious temple in honor of God. His idea was great and God approved of the idea, however as he sought God and acknowledged Him, in regards to this idea, He found out that God did not quite approve of his execution. It would not be David that would build the temple instead David’s son the one who would be made King after him would be the one to build the temple.
Sometimes acknowledging God means making adjustments to our plans, changing and postponing our goals, and sometimes scrapping them all together. In the case of David it meant that he only had the opportunity of financially contributing towards the goal, but He missed out on being part of the building project, he did not have the opportunity to see the building or attend the opening service. Whilst this seems like a loss, he would have certainly been more disappointment if he had gone to build the temple against God’s will. He would have attracted the disapproval and anger of God instead of the blessing and favour he received.
When your plans and goals are completely in line with God’s will for your life, you will always attract God’s favour and grace.
But why didn’t God allow David to build the temple as he desired? It was his idea, so why was the burden of execution put upon the shoulders of his son Solomon?
The answer is found in verses 11-13 of 2 Samuel 7, which says,
11… . Also the Lord tells you that He will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (New King James Version)
God’s purpose for David was to be a man of war. David was a fighter with the heart of a worshiper – a warring worshiper. David was a destroyer and killer and a protector of Israel. Although he had a good heart with godly intentions, he still had to do things God’s way. He was just part of the beginning of what God was planing not just in Israel but in the entire world. Even though, what we do is very important to God, he is even more particular in how we do it. Saul, David’s predecessor and mentor, did not take this into account and suffered worst possible punishment for his sin. “Obedience is better than Sacrifice”, were the words of Samuel to Saul after he made a sacrifice to God, which he as a King, had no business making (1 Samuel 15: 22). Seeking God’s face for our own goals has a huge impact on not just our own lives but on the lives of our descendants. Saul’s disobedience attracted a pattern of generational mishap and curses for his family, not only did the presence of God depart from him, but His sons to the third generation experienced misfortune and made wrong choices themselves.
You are more likely to continue down the path of wrong, if you are disconnected from the one who has the right direction.
David’s one good choice to follow after God’s heart rather than his own carnal desires, led to him having a throne that is established forever. God is interested in legacy and not just that one goal you are looking to achieve. It is important to ask God for clear directions about what he wants you to do and how he wants you to do it. Let God fit your goals into the godly legacy he is trying to build through you.
We Grow in Faith 