Seeing a God-sized Dream to Completion – Part 2
These swift days between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day bookend my favorite time of the year. I hope to never outgrow the giddiness I experience amidst the sparkle and wonder of the glorious Christmas season. I often wish time would slow as I attempt to absorb the sacred holiness of these precious days before the calendar flips to bend my attention toward pragmatic decisions to be tended to with the marking of a new year.
We are only a few days from the New Year, which invites the opportunity to look in the rear view mirror, assess where we’ve been and move forward toward a brighter future. Health clubs are packed for at least a month or two with those of us who make another annual attempt to reach our physical goals. We seize opportunities to better ourselves mentally, financially, educationally, relationally…in an effort toward forward movement in healthy, fruitful directions.
I hope that paramount within this forward movement, is the advancement of the God-sized dreams that have been imprinted deep within each of our souls!
In our last post, we observed the life of a guy named Nehemiah who lived thousands of years before us, but whose courageous steps served to shape his dream into reality and provide encouragement to the rest of us who have ever bumbled along with a dream that borders on sounding crazy…impossible…beyond our ability…outside of our reach.
As we continue in Part 2 of his story, I invite you to prayerfully consider how his action steps might impact your own journey
- Invite help – God never expected the dream He has placed in your heart to be lived out in isolation. Nehemiah could not have completed the dream of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem without the help of the king and those he commissioned to help Nehemiah.
Ask the King for the specific help you need. Ask Him to send people who would embrace your crazy dream with you and would supply what is lacking in your skills, your resources and wisdom.
One recent evening I felt frustrated and stuck, keenly aware of my inability to advance God-given dreams in my own strength. I humbly asked my King for His wisdom and encouragement. With swift answer that very next day, I happened to run into a friend I hadn’t seen for quite some time. We share similar dreams and passions, and she is further down the path toward seeing some of her dreams form into reality. As we began to share our hearts, she generously offered, “I could definitely help you. It would be a joy to share what I’ve learned along the way to help you reach your dream!”
Wow, how often do we spin our wheels, attempting to reach God-sized dreams in the vacuum of our own strength? Remember, God is more committed to accomplishing His purposes in us than we are! He invites us to partner with Him and with others. He will generously supply all we need. We simply need to invite His help.
- Trust in God’s favor and grace – Several times Nehemiah recounted the favor of the Lord on his life: “…all this happened because the gracious hand of God was on me.”
You, my friend, are deeply loved and valued by God. Do you recognize His gracious hand on your life? He invites you into a great adventure with Himself! The Aramaic meaning for the word “prayer” means “to set a trap”. In other words, when you talk with God about the dreams and goals He has placed in your heart, you will begin “to catch” the ways God is orchestrating your situation. As you invest in prayer, you begin to recognize His favor and movement in circumstances that might otherwise be dismissed as simply coincidental.
- Don’t focus on what you lack- Lack intimidates. Lack warps our perception, reminding us of our limitations and of our resources, held in short supply. Lack gets stuck on replay throughout the day. Hit the pause button and recognize that you ARE equipped to complete the work Jesus has given you to do!
Nehemiah rebuilt a wall around Jerusalem with the rubble left behind from the destroyed wall. What he lacked in resource and previous experience, he made up for with a certainty of God’s call and the assurance of His presence with him.
We live in a culture that pins women against one another as if we’re in a foot race to see whose life might have the largest ripple of influence. However, a God sized goal is not a foot race toward a finish line. Jesus doesn’t expect you to outrun anyone else, to copy anyone else’s call or envy their resources. He simply desires that we respond in active obedience to His unique call on our lives. No one is better suited to accomplish what He has given YOU to do; and He is committed to making sure you will have all you need to accomplish the task.
- Ignore voices of defeat – Neighboring onlookers attempted to intimidate Nehemiah and defeat his work to restore the wall around Jerusalem. They mocked his resources and belittled his abilities: “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? ….. Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?”… “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” (Nehemiah 4:2-3)
Nehemiah recognized the voice of the enemy and knew God was not speaking through them. He didn’t waver in his belief in what God had called him to do. Faith will often look foolish in the eyes of by-standers but is anchored to the belief that “The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it!” (1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIV)
- Stand your ground- Opposition and hardship are certain obstacles on every journey worth its salt. EXPECT IT. Prepare for it. Nehemiah asked all those joining him to prepare for opposition. They were to hold the sword in one hand and their hammer in the other.
As you read the Word, ask the Holy Spirit provide you with His promises that will strengthen your heart, fortify your resolve and guide you in the work He’s chosen for you to accomplish. Cling to them as you would to the greatest weapon of defense.
Here are a couple of my favorite promises:
- Psalm 69:32 The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged!
- Philippians 4:13 For I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.
- Psalm 23:1-3The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.
REALIZE THE DREAM! Nehemiah completed the work God gave him to do in 52 days. He pursued what some might have defined as an impossible, crazy task. He didn’t accomplish his God-sized dream through his own strength or stamina but by the presence, favor, and resource of his God who birthed a dream in his heart and saw it through to completion.
I pray that God would write his dream on your heart, and when He does: invite His help, trust in His favor and grace. Don’t fixate on what you lack or allow voices of defeat to intimidate. Stand your ground and realize your dream!
Now to the One who is able to do immeasurably more than we can think or ask, to Him be glory through YOUR LIFE forever!
Beauty awaits…
Patty
Anchor of hope: And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 (NLT)
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