David inquired of God: “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord answered him. “Go, I will hand them over to you.”
Is that the same as when I say. “Lord I want to be more productive, read more successful, with my business. Is this what I should be doing? Is this what YOU need me to be doing? Am I on the right path?” No, it’s not the same. David was working FOR God. Attacking the Philistines was - serving God. In my case I think I’m putting the cart before the horse. I’m trying to get God’s stamp of approval for something I want to do then asking for His guidance on how to achieve it while convincing myself that I’m serving Him. I tell myself this must be what He wants me to be doing otherwise He would not have given me the passion or this particular talent. Sounds nice and all but there is a piece missing in my logic.
1st Chronicles 14:14-15
David inquired of God again, and God answered him, “Do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.”
There is a constant battle within me as I grapple with the notion of who’s in charge. Ah, the missing piece in my logic is just that, who is in charge? Intellectually and spiritually I know it is the Lord. I know that! As a concept, I get that. In practice, I forget it. As I go about my business I ask for guidance but in reality it’s guidance for what I want to do. I’m asking Him to serve me! How unbelievably arrogant of me. I need to follow not lead. If He needs me to succeed with this or anything , it will happen. I need to turn it over to Him. I need to put His needs before mine and I need to do it His way. “Do not go straight up, but circle around….”
