Dreaming for Kingdom Purposes

"When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed."  

Psalm 126:1.

Divine Daydreaming

When was the last time you took away the limitations, restrictions, and barriers from your thoughts and simply thought about what the future might look like?  When was the last time you wondered about the full workings of God's great plan and the intersection of your existence?  

The psalmist had that time in his memory.  He said there was a time when he remembered the past and dreamed about the future.  He recalled a time when dreams were still a part of his experience in following God.

His thoughts took him toward the presence of God.  Divine plans will always bring others closer to God's kingdom and His plans for their lives.  Ideas and schemes may take them farther away.

His dream started in the midst of a very changing circumstance - freedom.  His surroundings accelerated his ability to imagine the future.  His recollection of what God had done in the past gave him bright hope for the future.

His past gave him insight into his future.  God's great work of faithfulness and provision could be trusted for the future.  God's kindness and compassion could be a basis for present obedience.

So what?

1)  Take time today to reflect upon God's history in your life.  Recall the moments when His presence was clear and his voice was concise.  Write a few of those moments down.

2)  Take time today to 'divinely daydream'.  Spend some moments thinking about God's plan for your life.  Write those thoughts down.  Share those thoughts with a close friend.  

Thank you for listening,

Boyd Hatchel

Mere Men

Psalm 82:7 - "But you will die like mere men; you will fall like every other ruler."

1 Corinthians 3:3-4 - "Are you not acting like mere men?  For when one says, 'I follow Paul', and another, 'I follow Apollos', are you not mere men?"

How much of what I do can be directly tied to supernatural intervention?  Of course, my existence, salvation, and desire to please God don't come from my own goodness.  But, how much of our spiritual busyness is mere activity, rather than producing long-term change in my life and the lives of those around me?

No one would claim that David or Paul were 'mere men'.  They were men who understood their role and responsibility in God's kingdom.  David knew leadership was temporary.  David knew the brevity of his own life.  And David also knew his own failures and faults.  He didn't want to live life discounting the presence and power of God.

Paul's missionary treks extended the scope of Christianity far beyond it's former boundaries. To many Christian historians, Paul would be considered the greatest missionary.  Paul understood missions is not about the messenger, but about the message.  Paul understood his role in proclamation and preaching about the Messiah.  Paul knew he was a servant to God in the process of conversion and change.

So what?

1)  How much of our current ministries and responsibilities would continue to exist if God's blessing was removed?  If there are any, it might be an indication of discounting the supernatural and acting like 'mere men'.  

2)  Begin to pray today for more evidence of God's power and presence in your life.  May His kingdom come in your life, in your family, in your relationships, and among your influence.

Thank you for listening,

Boyd Hatchel