Have you ever had a great idea? One that you are passionate about and will solve a problem, help people and even glorify God? One thing I am trying to learn is to stop and talk to God about everything before I take action. I always thought that good ideas that help people and magnify God are always from God.  And while this may be true, I am learning that a great idea isn’t an automatic stamp of approval and a green flag. I must not forget about God’s timing and God’s choice for leadership. God may have a different idea for how this great idea should be carried out. He can see the past, present and future all at once. What seems like a great idea to me here and now, may be a better idea at another time for another person to carry out.  He may want me to bring this idea to someone else to complete.

Here is an example that brought this blog to mind.  In 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17 it is recorded that King David had a great idea. He wanted to build a beautiful cedar palace for the Ark of God and get it out of a tent. I’m sure it must have been David’s love for God that inspired this thought. And it was a great idea! It would glorify God! However, God put a stop to it. It was an act of love for God from David and God nixed it! He told David that He didn’t need a palace to perform great works. And David’s response was not pouting or griping. It was obedience and praise.  I’m sure David did not understand why, but he clearly understood God’s instructions. And he obeyed. We, the readers of this story, have the advantage of seeing why. We know it was Solomon, David’s son who carried out the building of the temple. We see that God had this task in mind for someone else at another point in time. In fact, God may have planted this idea in David to pass on to Solomon, his son.  

But here is the bottom line. Just because it is a great, loving, kind idea that would glorify God, does not mean I don’t need to ask God if I should go ahead with the plans. I must always, always remember to lay it before God. 

So how will I know if it is right to go ahead? If I took it to God first, it is on God, and He will let me know. All I have to do is pause and bring it to Him first and trust Him with the rest.