Weekly Devotion from Jesse

Wednesday, July 28     This Week
Week of:    Jul 18, 2010, Jul 11, 2010, Jul 4, 2010, Jun 27, 2010
Topics: GETTING CLOSER TO GOD, COURAGEOUSLY FOLLOWING GOD

HOW DREAMS BECOME REALITY

Passage Of the Day:

But now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.

Haggai 2:4 (New King James Version)

Insight - Application & Encouragement

Three times in this verse God tells the people to be strong. The situation is that God wants His people to build a temple because the temple has been destroyed by the Babylonians. There are challenges financially, spiritually, and with overcoming apathy. The dream of a new temple will not be easily accomplished. It will involve rolling up their sleeves and really going to work. But work alone will not accomplish the goal, ultimately the Lord will need to bless the dream with His vision, provision, and direction. God reassures the people that this dream will become a reality because he is with them.


A Story:

In 1924, Gutzon Borglum was in South Dakota looking at the Black Hills when he had a vision of the potential. He and his team used dynamite and jackhammers to remove 400,000 tons of rock. And he began to sculpt the faces of presidents Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Roosevelt. Borglum declared, “American history shall march across this skyline.” The dream proceeded the reality.


Application:

Here are some steps from the book of Haggai that relate directly to us today as we desire to see dreams become realities in our lives:

1) Make sure you are aligned with God’s word: not every good idea is a God idea. It has to be consistent with Scripture too.

2) Pay attention to your strength stealers so you can overcome them: These will be people who try to bring you down and discourage your work.

3) Find something that is worthy of your time and energy: Don’t get distracted and chase after meaningless goals.

4) Know that God’s best results usually come after faithful patience: There might not be instant microwave speed results. Stay the course.

5) Operate within God’s grace which is your reason for success: Don’t try to do more or less than what God wants. Keep a pure and humble walk so His support will be strong.


A Quote:

T.E. Lawrence said, “All people dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds awake to the day to find it was all vanity. But the dreamers of the day are dangerous (in the good way)- for the many act out their dreams with open eyes to make it possible.”


Questions:

1) What dreams have in terms of doing something for God?
2) Are those dreams alive today or have they been changed?
3) Is there an area of your life now where God wants you to be strong and work?
4) How do you know when an idea is really from God?
5) Are your prayers aligned with your dreams?
6) Who is someone that you could affirm today that is serving God?


Prayer:
Father God, I want to thank you how you stir up your people to do great things. Please line up my life with the dreams you have for me to accomplish. Fill me with your Holy Spirit today. Open up the doors and provide the resources I pray. May it be for your glory and in harmony with your Word. Help me to overcome the obstacles that are in the way. Please help me with my apathy too. I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.

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