IDEAS

(1 Ki 8:18-19) "But the LORD said to my father David, 'Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. 19 'Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.'

There is nothing like a good idea. A thought pops into your head and you tell people around you what you’re thinking and everyone says, “That’s a great idea!” It gets people motivated. It gets people moving. Things were at a standstill but now that idea is the catalyst to get things going.

At other times you thought you had a good idea and when you shared it people got so quiet you could hear crickets! Not because your idea was profound but because your idea hit the ground. You got humbled and so you said to yourself, “Oh well, trash that one!”

What should we do with an idea that comes into our minds? I guess we should just give it to the Lord. The Lord could be leading us by a thoughtful inspiration. But we should pray about it and get the Spirit’s confirmation. So often we rush out and fail to seek the Lord. We fall flat on our face and we can hear the Lord speak to our hearts . . . “Did you pray about that one?”

I have made that mistake before. And I have made a few other ones as well because I guess I am kind of an “idea guy.” One mistake has been to speak out to others before I have prayed about it and thought it through. It seems when you share your ideas and dreams people expect you to act upon them. When you don’t you kind of look like Mr. Dreamer who never wakes up and delivers in real life.

Another mistake I have made is sharing with my wife or friends every brainstorm that comes in my mind. It can make me look discontented and give forth an unsettling effect to those around me. I feel good sharing what I’m thinking (usually another storm in the brain!) but those who care about me can feel anxious about the content, the suggestion, or course of action I am proposing. How many people I have driven nuts by another one of my nutty ideas.

I think the best way to process an idea is the advice from Acts 19:36 “. . . you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly.” Just pray about it, muzzle it for a while, and when the time is right then go for it. If the timing or situation never is right, then do not proceed. It was good that it was in your heart but maybe it’s for someone else or not at all. You might see one out of a hundred ideas come to pass but that’s okay. It’s a different kind of batting average. One that strikes out occasionally in conception but at other times hits a home run in timely perfection.

So, remember to seek the Lord because His ideas are the best!

(Isa 1:18) "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD . . .

Louie