immeasurably more.
Stop for a moment and think about what you want. Not what you wish you wanted - i.e. dreams or expectations others have placed on you or what you think you should desire - but, what do you actually desire? This question was posed at a conference* I attended last weekend at my church. It was actually a marriage conference I had all sorts of feelings sitting in on. I was helping work the event and got to absorb all this content I wasn't so sure was relevant to me. Was it ever! Towards the end we had the opportunity to create a 2-5 year vision based on the things that were in our heart. And wow, I can say after having written mine down that it absolutely terrifies me - in the best way.
Think on this. The God who created you, who formed you and knew you before the creation of the world, created you with a purpose. All I have to do is look at my four children and see how uniquely different they are to understand that they all have different purposes and giftings. They were each set apart for a unique purpose. Those dreams and desires that are in your heart? Don't you think they were put there by God? He wants good things for His children.
Think on this. The God who created you, who formed you and knew you before the creation of the world, created you with a purpose. All I have to do is look at my four children and see how uniquely different they are to understand that they all have different purposes and giftings. They were each set apart for a unique purpose. Those dreams and desires that are in your heart? Don't you think they were put there by God? He wants good things for His children.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11
I read the other day, if you don't have a dream you're working towards, you just exist. Often it can feel scary to believe for something. Maybe it seems too big or too distant or impossible? Jesus said, "Everything is possible for one who believes." Mark 9:23 Also, “God … is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of — infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes” Ephesians 3:20
The promises of God are for those who believe. The Bible talks a lot about the testing of our faith, that His work may be complete in us. The testing and trials will show our faith as genuine and this is all for our good.
"So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." 1 Peter 1:6-7
Those that are wavering in their faith (which isn’t faith at all) shouldn’t expect to receive anything (James 1:7-8). All of the promises we see - commit to the Lord and He will establish your plans, delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart, if you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you, etc etc... are for those whose hearts are completely aligned with Him. It’s so easy to say "I believe" or "I have faith", but... do we really?! We are so afraid to claim anything for fear of what? Did this really come from God? Yes, God gives us dreams and desires, but we must act. This is faith. And not only that, but continuing to act even if all our circumstances seem to go against it. If we press on and fight the fight, run the race, let His purpose be complete in is, we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Oftentimes that breakthrough may be just around the corner. There's obstacles, doubt, and everything seems to be going against us, but do we have the faith to believe anyway?
“At that time we were completely overwhelmed, the burden was more than we could bear, in fact we told ourselves that this was the end. Yet we now believe that we had this experience of coming to the end of our tether that we might learn to trust, not in ourselves, but in God who can raise the dead.”
2 Corinthians 1:8-9
All throughout Scripture we see the people of God waiting on His promises to be fulfilled. Abraham waited to become a father of many nations and was old in age before His son was born, the Israelites wandered the the desert for 40 years, David was a kid when he was first anointed king, it took Noah 120 years to build the ark, Joseph's dreams as a kid were not fulfilled until much later in his life, etc. Why do we so easily give up if our dream is delayed? Do we claim God's promises and expect Him to fulfill them? Or, do we doubt that it was ever truly God and stop before we reach the finish line? "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." James 1:6
This excited me guys. Because I feel like I have lived my life scared - scared to move, scared to follow my heart's desires, scared of not being enough, scared of failure. But, this is what I know. "I am certain that God, who began the good work within {me}, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." I think it's amazing that my vision scares me. I know who I am and I know what He is calling me towards. I also know that I can do all things through Him that gives me strength. Greater things ahead, my friends.
I wrote down my vision and I am trusting and believing God for it. I am standing on the promises of His Word and there is so much hope in that. My mind has been spinning for over a week now and I know it's a lot to absorb. But, don't just move on. Stop and really think about it. I know there's distraction after distraction and we so easily move onto the next thing. I would encourage you to take a moment to think about what's in your heart and what that means. What are we failing to believe God for because of our insecurities and/or "obstacles"? For what purpose were you created? What is on your heart right now? Stop, pray, and ask what He has for you.
“For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” THIS is what He wants for you, friends.
