Dear believer, as you turn to the Lord for strategy and direction in this season towards 2024, the absolute best thing you can do for yourself is to go to Him devoid of personal agenda.
Every thing which has set up camp in your heart, which is posing as ambition or desire but suspiciously looking like an idol,
TEAR. IT. DOWN.
Does this mean we should not have wants, or desires to excel and do well…. for example in our careers? Of course not.
Listen long Before YOU started wanting to prosper, HE DID. DOES. DOETH.
He desires that you prosper…even as your soul prospers (3John 2-4).
But im talking about IDOLS. The plans and things and desires that are so strong they becloud you.
For example the usual suspect: money. Another example: That sister/brother that you have been infatuative about. Could be anything. But there’s a thin line between wants, desires, and inordinate ambition.
In all thy praying and goal-setting, go to God with a neutral, open heart.
Sometimes those desires may be His nudges, yes that is true.
And sometimes, they are simply one’s own personal agenda and ambition which may or may not be aligned with His plans for you.
This is why going to Him with a neutral or at least a heart willing to exchange your plans for HIS.
So, neutral mode as you pray. Dont go to God seeking rubber stamps on things your soul has so firmly clung to.
The end result of that approach is found in Numbers chapter 22. After pushing for rubberstamp approval, by verse 20, the guy got a sarcastic answer….one which his greed had so blinded him to, that he did not notice the change of tone in God’s voice.
By the very next verse 22, the Lord Himself stood as an adversary against him.
Second example (going by the 2-witnesses principle), is found in Ezekiel 14:4. This one is more explicit:
4 “Therefore speak to them, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols…..”
See, these are serious matters. And they are real issues.
He is a good Father. Prayerfully plan and strategize for the new season. But dont keep harbouring idols in your heart whilst relentlessly pushing for rubberstamps. In verse 12 of Numbers 22, God had already given the prophet a very clear, explicit answer. But greed drove the guy to keep pushing for a different answer, till God eventually gave him a sarcastic answer. God was annoyed and almost killed him then.
Remember, God loves us dearly.
But the metrics by which we measure things are often quite skewed.
He is a good, GOOD GOOD FATHER. He wants the best for you.
If it is your perception of Him as a father that needs help, please ask the Holy Spirit for help in that area. He is your Abba!
BUT.
Go to Him with a neutral mind, or at least a heart fully willing to lay down your own desires if need be. No idols in your heart. They are wayyyy too expensive, as you can see from scripture.
Trust His Word.
Trust His own plans.
Jeremiah 29:11
3 John 2-4.
God grant you peace.
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