Our labradoodle, Bailee, is a fur-ball of energy. She loves to run at full speed to chase squirrels and balls. For Christmas, I bought a ball launcher for her. She hasn’t quite got the idea down, though. When I lift that ball launcher away from my body, she tears away, anticipating my throw. When this happens, after she turns her back and runs, she doesn’t see where I throw the ball and totally misses out on the reward of chasing it down and reaching the prize.
We can do this sometimes, too. Sometimes God whispers a dream to us and we take the idea and run, without turning back to see where He is sending us. We can end up down a path that God never intended because we didn’t wait for Him to show us His perfect way and His plan. We may even think we are being obedient, because we are racing after a vision that came from God.
It is good to have goals and it is good to work hard toward those goals; however, we must make sure we are not getting ahead of God. Here are three ways we can make sure we are not wildly chasing a dream on our own accord.
Keep your focus on God.
Don’t let chasing the dream distract you from God. Keep praying. Keep reading the Bible. Keep His truth in your heart. God will never lead you down a path that forces you to separate from Him. But we can easily go down this path as we take our focus off of God to chase the next “shiny” thing.
Wait for God to direct your steps.
God may place a seed of a dream in your heart at any time, but it’s not always His intention for you to chase that dream at that point in time. Take your time and wait for direction from God. Then be obedient when He does call you to action. If you are being called to wait, use that time to prepare. Trust His plan.
Ask for wisdom.
James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Chasing a dream can take courage, faith and strength. It takes vulnerability and direction. It takes wisdom. If God generously gives wisdom to those who ask, we should all ask for and seek wisdom from the ultimate Giver.
**********************
In Genesis 37-50, we learn about the story of Joseph. As a teenager, God gave Joseph a dream where he would reign over his brothers and father. In the end, this dream did come true; however, along the way, Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, enslaved and incarcerated before he was placed in a position of power, where he helped the Egyptians flourish through a drought and famine.
Through the difficult times, Joseph stayed focused on God, waiting patiently for Him to direct his steps. When he was finally reunited with his brothers who had betrayed him, he showed them such wisdom and mercy! In Genesis 45:4-5, it says,”…I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” God used those difficult years to strengthen Joseph’s character before allowing him to reach his ultimate position of power.
God is so good to place dreams in our hearts. They can give us purpose and make our soul come alive as we work to make our vision a reality. As you chase your dreams, be sure to keep your focus on God, wait for Him to direct your steps and ask for wisdom along the way. His destination for the dream He placed in your heart is beyond anything you can imagine, so remain in His plan instead of missing out on His blessing by running ahead.
Lord, we thank you for the dreams you place in our hearts. We ask for guidance, patience and wisdom as we pursue those dreams in your perfect timing. Help us to rely on you and not to place our hope and pride in our limited abilities. Please reveal your plan to us with clarity so that we may live fully in the calling you have placed on our heart. Amen.
Like this post? Pin it below!
2 Comments