Readings for today: 1 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 18-20
i have often asked God for dreams and visions. Inspiration from the Holy Spirit. Ideas that can only come from Him and be accomplished by Him. The problem is I often don’t know what dreams are God-inspired and what dreams are inspired by my own ego. This is where godly counsel comes in. It’s so important to have godly men and women in your life who are not afraid to dream God-sized dreams with you but who are also not afraid to tell you “no.” I think of the mentors I’ve had in my life or the elders I serve alongside or the friends and colleagues I meet with on a regular basis who’ve played this role. Certainly my wife is a key figure in helping me figure these things out.
Ahab had a big dream. He wanted to recapture a city from the Syrians. He invited Jehoshaphat to join him. But Jehoshaphat wanted confirmation the dream was from the Lord. He asked for godly counsel. Ahab brought hundreds of prophets in to make the case. Unfortunately, they were on his payroll. They didn’t want to tell the king anything he didn’t want to hear. Jehoshaphat sees right through their facade. He asks for a second opinion. Ahab relents by sending for Micaiah, a man notorious for being willing to speak God’s truth to Ahab and tell him “no.” Micaiah comes and tells the kings what the Lord has decreed. In their arrogance, they charge into battle and it costs Ahab his life. The Lord used Ahab’s arrogance to bring about His judgment for the way he lived his life. Imagine how different things might have been had Ahab been willing to listen to godly counsel.
What about you? Do you have godly counselors in your life? Men and women who will pray with you, seek the Lord with you, discern with you, and have the courage to confront you? Do you have men and women who can “test the spirits” with you to see if they are from God or a projection of your own ego? These kinds of relationships are the key to living a godly life.
Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 1-4