It is fine to give yourself a great big verbal "yes" when some goal has been achieved, or to exchange a high-five with someone. Go ahead, rejoice over your victories or dreams fulfilled. Throw a party. Maybe God has put you in a position where your name is becoming well-known or you are a leader of a large organization or megachurch.
As this happens, however, we must be mindful that it is not about us. Hopefully, our dreams are centered around a desire to glorify God and to bring people into His Kingdom. Remember, we are only the arms and legs doing God's work.
What if a goal or dream does not turn out the way we want it to? Are we going to get depressed and angry, or are we going to delight ourselves in the Lord?" (Psalm 37:4) We must be very careful about saying a big "Yes" to what we have accomplished but leaving out this part.
What if God moves you into a very prominent position of leadership or raises up a ministry with you at the head? What should your attitude be? Consider the example of David in I Chronicles 17. Verse 7 declares in reference to David, "...I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you shall be leader over my people Israel." David's response is recorded in verses 16-20. "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far...and have regarded me according to the standard of a man of high degree, O Lord God...O Lord, there is none like Thee, neither is there any God besides you..." There is no pride in David's attitude. He had a humble view of himself and worshipped God.
Has God taken you from a "pasture" of humble and lowly circumstances to make you a leader over many, or put you in a position where your name is getting known? If so, I hope that you have the attitude of David.
I have had to continually practice this in my journey of becoming a published author. It is very easy to get a big ego when I have been on television, the front page of a local paper, and soon to have my name and book promoted on radio stations nationwide. I have to constantly remind myself that it is not about me, but about proclaiming God's message of hope and healing.
I must delight myself in the Lord, no matter how good or badly something turns out, for He is the source of all my dreams and their outcome. It is God's timing, resources, and encounters with other people that has made the fulfillment of my goals and dreams possible.
Let's finish the rest of the verse. The complete verse states, "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." This means our desire for God must always be greater and more rewarding than our goals or dreams accomplished. If it is not, then why should we expect God to give us our heart's desire?
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! TRUST JESUS NOW
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