I Chron. 28:2-3a, 6 “King David rose to his feet and said: ‘Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. But God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my Name’…He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.’”

I Chron. 28:11, 20 “Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement….David also said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.’”

King David was a man after his own heart. Surely if David had a dream to do something for the Lord, it would be ok, right? Haven’t you come up with plans that just sounded so good you knew it is what God would want you to do? Nathan the prophet initially liked the idea. But when they went to the Lord, God told them it was not his dream for David. David, instead would establish a line of kings that would rule God’s people forever. The dream that David tried to claim, was the one God had for his son, Solomon. Accordingly, David gave all his preparations, plans and a LOT of gold to Solomon for the building of God’s holy temple. By the time he would finish construction (about 7 years), Solomon’s temple would be a wonder to behold, costing, in today’s currency, about $83 billion dollars! David knew there might be times during the building when things might not go smoothly. So David told Solomon the same thing God told Moses…never fear, God is with you. As we approach our dreams today, these words should echo in our hearts. Don’t be afraid or discouraged – the Lord God is with you.

Pray: “Heavenly Father, so many times I have thought I knew exactly what you would have me do, only to find out later it was my own desires leading me. I know you have a dream for me. Whether it is what I would have dreamed for myself, or perhaps so daunting in size that I’m almost afraid to consider it is actually for me, I will trust, as Moses, as Joseph, as David and as Solomon did that I have nothing to fear following the dream you have given me. You are with me. You will see it through to completion. I claim that promise, Lord, in my Savior’s matchless name - Amen.”