God Sized Dreams

Being positive is always a good thing.  Believing you can do anything you think you can and accomplishing all you want to accomplish is great too.  But at what point do we try to take ownership over things we should be relying on God for?

The last few days I’ve been noticing many motivational posts saying,  “We can do this and do that….that we can accomplish all;” but nowhere is there any mention of God.  So I’ve really been contemplating this lately.

For those of you that have been following me, you all know that I have begun pursuing a calling God has placed on my life.  I also know that I won’t be able to accomplish this on my own….and that this was God’s idea in the first place.  I have faith that I’m on the right path.

In school this week there was a discussion question about what our personal, professional, and educational goals were.  I responded that I’ve always had a hard time with goals….I’m pretty content, and it’s hard to ask for more when there are people out there with so little.

Today I listened to an old sermon from my pastor called Relentless.  Basically it was the middle sermon of a 2 year campaign for church expansion…..not just a building, but reaching out into the community, country, and world…..to help all those we can.  He said if we don’t dream big, ask for big things from God, and look to grow……we become stagnant.  It got me thinking…..am I asking for enough?  Should I be asking for more?

I went out for a walk and had a chat with God.  I asked for Him to place me in the biggest position possible that He has planned for me; whether it’s in my current church, in plans for planting a church, or even working at Habitat for Humanity here in town.  Whatever His greatest position for my life He has, I am ready.  I thanked Him for how I have been blessed, but I don’t want to become stagnant, that I want to continue to do His work.

A few minutes later I was on Amazon looking for a new book.  I ran across a book called Dare to Dream:  Creating a God-Sized Mission Statement For Your Life.  I read through the prologue, turned the page, and the first quote of the book was as follows:

“Then Jacob departed from Beer-sheba and went toward Haran.  He came to a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place.  He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.  And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants.”

Genesis 28:10-13

How does this always happen?  This was the exact scripture Steven Furtick spoke on just 2 weeks ago…..the same sermon I shared with my wife when she was having issues at work.  The same sermon that Steven Furtick described Jacob as sleeping in a place he wasn’t supposed to be sleeping……sleeping on a dream he shouldn’t have been sleeping on…..and he woke up in the place he was supposed to be…..feeling amazing;  the same sermon I referenced just a few blogs ago when I realized I have woken up in the middle of God’s plan.

So now as I ponder all of the motivation, all of the positivity….all of my goals….I believe self-motivation is wrong, if it’s not grounded in faith.  I don’t believe you can do anything you set your mind to, unless God has already planned that for you.

As God told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.  Only be strong and courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go (Joshua 1:6-7.)”

I believe God is saying, “Joshua, you got this.  You know your God-sized dream…the one that started with Abraham, I’m here to complete it in you.  Keep strong, keep faithful, and follow Me, and this will all be yours.”  We may never see the results of our “God-Sized Dream.”  Rest assured though, God will see it through.

“On October 1, 1971, five years after the great Walt Disney passed away; Disney World had its grand opening. During the dedication ceremony, someone turned to Mrs. Walt Disney and said, “Isn’t it a shame that Walt didn’t live to see this?” Mrs. Disney replied, “He did see it, that’s why it’s here (Travis Smith.)”

So yes, be positive.  Be motivational.  Have grand goals.  But stay humble.  Stay in God’s word.  Stay in God’s plan.  Don’t veer off on your own.  It’s scary enough out there without being in God’s presence.  Ask for greater and grander things…..but ask, not for your own glory and fame, but the glory of God’s work be done.