Do You Have a Dream?
Where do you want to go with your life?
What do you want to be?
What do you want to accomplish?
What do you want to do for others?
Have you asked yourself any of these kinds of questions lately? Possibly not. It’s hard to lift our heads from the weekly treadmill to think of the big questions of purpose and direction. It can also be scary.
Isn’t dreaming of a future for myself a selfish pursuit? Shouldn’t I content myself with my life rather than spend time considering the future? What if when I am very honest with myself, I find I don’t have any dreams, sense of purpose or aspirations? Maybe my lot is to be a “worker bee” – someone who goes through life without many highs, lows or accomplishments. Maybe dreaming isn’t for me. What if I allow myself to dream big, but can never realize my dreams? What if my dreams exceed my abilities? Wouldn’t it be better to not allow myself to dream? I’d rather not dream than fail to achieve my dreams.
Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish …” (KJV). Some would interpret this to mean that without a sense of vision people may as well die. The NIV adds a little more clarity to the meaning of the verse, “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint …” When people don’t have a sense of God’s purpose, will or dream for their lives, they have no reason to discipline themselves. Revelation, when interpreted rightly, leads in a direction. It requires discipline to walk in the direction of God. That is part of what it means to follow Jesus. Disciples are disciplined followers of Jesus – His will and His ways.
God dreamed you into existence. He invented you in His mind, and He spoke your life into your mother’s womb – using the elements of your family line. He has been dreaming of and for you since before you were born. Don’t be afraid to dream, see His will and open yourself to His revelation. The dreams of God release purpose, hope and reason for living. Don’t miss out on these graces because of fear or small thinking.
Are you willing to discipline your life (to restrain you wandering or aberrant passions) to align with God’s dreams for you? The second half of the verse carries an incredible promise, “Blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.” Wisdom is the personification of God – God is all loving and all wise. When we heed His instruction to live out His dreams for our life we are blessed. We experience His presence, His love and His heaven empowered and resource abilities.
Are there dreams that God wants you to dust off and look at in some fresh ways – aligning yourself with concrete steps in His direction? Have you been afraid to consider what He might have for you because of a lack of self-worth? Remember, God dreamed you, created you, and died for you in Jesus – you have always been and are precious in His eyes. Invite His revelation and allow yourself to receive. Your life will be changed!
