Dreams.
We all have them. Big, small. Some realistic, others far fetched. Dreams that have been obtained and others that are far off the horizon. Regardless of where your dreams are currently, we can all say that at one time or another dreams have been apart of our hearts. Some of us have found ourselves on the path where we are currently pressing toward that "dream" while others find themselves hurt by trying to accomplish a dream due to failure. I know that there are others of us that can't remember the last time that we had a dream that we wanted to see come to pass because life has squashed out those flickers of hope.
Dreams.
I know that for me personally, I have accomplished some dreams like obtaining my RN license and having a nursing career, or getting married and becoming a mother. But, on the road of dreams, I have found that what I once longed for in the dream world, I was unsatisfied; longing for something different and more. Have you been there? When you finally accomplish that dream that you have had for so long that it isn't at all what you thought or hoped it would be. The argument that although this is very disappointing, scripture tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:11 that "...God has placed eternity on the human heart..." Our desire for the Lord is innate. When our dreams do not line up with His will for us to further His kingdom, what are we really accomplishing. If your drive for success, money, recognition, etc is what is pushing toward your dreams, then unsatisfaction is sure to follow. Only God can fill that place of satisfaction. Dreams can come for the Lord, for "when you take delight in the Lord, He will give you your heart's desire." (Psalm 37:4). When we are willing to please the Lord, he gives us dreams and allows us to fulfill those dreams.
So, today, I myself am making a list of my new dreams or perhaps even forgotten dreams that I found that the Lord is placing on my heart. Once written down, I asked myself the following question which lead to even deeper questions: "How do I work toward these dreams/goals/desires?"
First, "Who is someone that I look up to and why?" When I set my mind on who I can look up to, I recognize that they most likely possess qualities that I am searching for within myself who also have obtained similar goals and become successful. I believe that it is perfectly okay to look up to someone, but recognizing that they are a person, too. What we perceive on the outside of someone's life is usually a snip of what they have experienced in life and only a tip of the iceberg of what is taking place in their heart. Therefore, it is important to keep in mind that although on their exterior life seems just peachy, their life can be up in flames. Hello, people. (On a side note, this is why I have stepped away from facebook...more on that later). Also, I think that if you decide to look up to someone, make sure that they have similar Christian values as you because what good is it to look up to someone when you're trying to further the kingdom when that person is not.
Second, I asked myself "What do these dreams/goals do to glorify Jesus and how can they further the Kingdom." This helps me make my life more purposeful and fulfill the scripture that I earlier mentioned. Without God, I can't do anything, but with Him, I can do all things (Philippians 4:13). If I am not trying to glorify God, then what I am I really trying to do?
The last question is the most difficult, but most necessary: "What requirements and/or sacrifices of myself most I make?"You can see why this is the most difficult. If we are not willing to give up something, then we are never going to really obtain it. And you can't argue that you won't have to give up anything. Usually it will be your time. However, dreams more frequently than not require that you give up so much more. Many times we find ourselves making the argument that "I just don't have enough time." What I have found, is that you are willing to make time for things that are most important to you. For instance, I can either sit on the couch and watch TV, or I can make my time much more useful. Something that I have personally encountered is that the people that I look up to can accomplish so much because they don't own a television. Hey, it sounds crazy, but there's something to be noted there. Something even deeper that we must sacrifice might be our feeling of being "comfortable" or "safe." When we are willing to get out of our comfort zone, then that is really where we are able to learn and to grow.
Lastly, the thing that the Lord has spoke to me about my dreams is the following. My prayer is that it speaks to you just like it has spoken volumes to me. It is to recognize what my talents are and to stop trying to pursue other talents/gifts because you don't think that yours are special enough. Yes, I often find myself making comments like "I wish I could do _____ like so and so." What happens is, is that I find myself feeling unqualified, worthless and deeply unsatisfied. God has given me and you our talents specific to us. It's our job to acknowledge them, embrace them and put them into action. When we find ourselves not embracing them and pushing forward with them, we are so deeply destroying who we are and what we are created to do.
Hopefully, through my struggle that I have had over the past couple of weeks, you can find the encouragement that I have found. What are my dreams you may ask - well, one of them is this blog. One of my dreams that I wrote down this morning is to teach others life lessons and how Jesus works within our day to day all the while encouraging other along the way. My dear, sweet husband encourages me that I can write to others, that I am good enough and I can make a difference. But you see, in the world of blogging, there are so many. I am new at it and don't want to be another one in the thousands upon thousands of blogs. I sometimes like to believe the lies of the enemy (anyone else with me here?) that one more doesn't make a difference. How can I be so wrong. One more can make all the difference. Be that one more today. Be encouraged. Make a difference and DREAM.
