I’m dreaming with God because I know He knows better than I do what my dream is. The dream He has for me may not be what I think it is.
While I am here on earth, I may not even realize completely the impact His dream for me had on the lives of others. But He does have a dream for me and for you. And it doesn’t matter what age or station in life we are.
Remember Joseph? God gives him a dream that his brothers and father would bow down to him. He’s just a boy when God tells him his destiny. Of course he blabs it to his brothers who don’t like him anyway.
Because of his big mouth, it takes years and lots of detours before the dream comes to past. There were plenty of days in between when I’m sure Joseph doubted that dream would come true. He probably thought God played a big joke on him allowing him to interpret others’ dreams when the one God gave him didn’t seem to be anywhere close to coming true.
I also don’t think he knew what the dream meant until he actually saw his father and brothers before him in the palace.
God had a dream for Joseph that Joseph couldn’t even imagine. And yet it spoke to his heart’s desire because God knew Joseph’s heart better than Joseph did.
Each one of us is uniquely designed by God. We are given a unique identity when we enter the world—genetics, personality, talents, abilities, bents towards certain interests. He planned it specifically for us before we were born.
Psalm 139:16 says, “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
If we need to know what we should do today, we need only ask God. He knows.
He’s got plans for us. Jer 29:11-14 explains: “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,’ says the Lord.”
We go through life doing the same thing, day in and day out, not realizing we could be tapping into the greatness God has planned for our lives if we only looked for Him wholeheartedly.
It is God’s grace that allows us to do the mundane things that may lead to greatness. His grace also empowers us to step out of our comfort zone if God calls us to do so.
There is a resident power at work in the universe that is ready to propel us forward into a measure of divine power we can’t even fathom exists. We just need to want Him as much as He wants to bless us.
In Ephesians 3:20-21 Paul says, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!”
God is a master at clues. He likes to drop them along our path, kind of like bread crumbs.
Some people get big clues like a burning bush or plans for the ark like Moses or Noah. Some get a dream when they are a teenager like Joseph. Others get a visit from an angel like Mary.
The rest of us get this knowing deep inside our heart. Something touches us, because as Kari Jobe sings, Jesus is the keeper of our heart. He wants to give us our heart’s desire.
“Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart’s desire,” it says in Psalm 37:4.
That means exactly what it says. In light of Psalm 139:16, God knows every day of my life. He already has it mapped out.
He’s given us clues resident within us about who we are.
He wants us each to delight ourselves in Him. And THEN he will give EACH of us OUR heart’s desire.
It is to serve the Lord, of course. But it is not to generically serve the Lord. Everyone is different, just as everyone’s heart’s desire is different.
There are seven billion people on the planet with seven billion different unique identities. If we all do the same thing, it will be a very boring planet. If we all connect with God, delighting in Him and letting Him show us His desire for us, it will mean everything is getting done by people who really want to do it. It will be my heart’s desire and your heart’s desire.
My heart’s desire has always been to write. Lately, I’m realizing the writing is leading to other pathways that are also pretty exhilarating—speaking, leading groups, coaching women—all of these are probably in my future.
Yet, if God had said that to me even a year ago, it would have scared me to death.
He, though, knows my heart’s desire is to make a difference in the lives of women. He knows the best way for me to do that.
I’m dreaming with Him. I’m wholeheartedly following the bread crumbs He drops. I’m excitedly listening to the dreams He drops in my heart. I’m ready for whatever the future holds.
How about you?
Teresa Shields Parker is a wife, mother, business owner, life group leader, speaker and author of Sweet Grace: How I Lost 250 Pounds and Stopped Trying to Earn God’s Favor and Sweet Grace Study Guide: Practical Steps to Lose Weight and Overcome Sugar Addiction. Get a free chapter of her memoir on her blog at Teresa Shields Parker.com. Connect with her there or on her Facebook page.
Teresa Shields Parker is a Christian weight loss author, coach, podcaster, and speaker, who has lost 250 pounds and kept it off since 2013. Her books include: “Reconnecting Jayne: Her Sister’s Support,” “Rebuilding Jayne: Her Father’s Protection,” “Sweet Grace: How I Lost 250 Pounds and Stopped Trying to Earn God’s Favor,” “Sweet Grace Study Guide,” “Sweet Victory: Winning the Battle,” “Sweet Surrender: Breaking Strongholds,” “Sweet Journey to Transformation: Practical Steps to Lose Weight and Live Healthy”, “Sweet Freedom: Losing Weight and Keeping It Off With God’s Help,” “Sweet Freedom Study Guide,” “Sweet Change: True Stories of Transformation,” “Sweet Hunger: Developing an Appetite for God,” and “Sweet Excuses: Stop Lying to Yourself & Start Losing Weight.” She also offers Overcomers Christian Weight Loss Academy and VIP intensive coaching. Don’t miss her weekly podcast, Sweet Grace for Your Journey, where she shares tips from her personal journey of losing weight and discovering healthy living. Contact her at [email protected].
Such an inspiring article today. Printing this one out so I’ll have it handy to refer to often.
Thank you.
Thanks Donnella. I fixed a few typos, LOL! So if you want to print it out again, feel free! Glad it spoke to you.
This was wonderful Teresa! Lately, though, I have been feeling that I am used up right now. I have had a full life of doing all kinds of things. A really good minister who happened to have been my boss, pointed out to me that all the things that I did as a volunteer, were in one way or another, a ministry to different people. I have been reflecting on that a whole lot lately and I realize he was right! I loved the things my husband and I did. But I am sick now and very tired. So I am guessing it is finally my time to rest and reflect and pray.
A co-worker once complained that I talked too much with the parishioners that came in to my desk. I was parish secretary and the first contact when people came through the front door. But the pastor took me aside and pointed out to me that I had managed to befriend people that no one else had! The grouchy, untouchables in the community that no one knew why they were the way they were. One woman who was an abused spouse in a former marriage who was forced to give up her son and now could not locate him in the system in New York. Another woman who was an abused woman who the church had failed. It was very moving and rewarding for me, but the co-worker could only see that I was wasting time on the church’s dime. Fortunately for me, my boss (pastor) could see that I was actually ministering.
I guess what I am trying to say is that you are helping me with your articles, to see that I have some good, even in my idleness. I have been feeling guilty for not being so active any more because of my multiple illnesses and almost home bound conditions. But I pray constantly almost and I am feeling a lot closer to the Lord, thanks to you. Thank you.
Love,
Barbara
You have much to offer. Your years of wisdom can be parlayed into many things. Prayer, connection, writing or anything God lays on your heart. Guilt and shame is not from God. It is a trick of the enemy to make us feel useless. In actuality, I believe it is an indication you are on the right track. The devil will just leave us alone if we are useless. But useful people are a threat and so he uses things like guilt, shame, I should, if only I could, you know his lines.
Pray against this for yourself and for others who are out in the public eye. I, for one, could sure use your prayers. I’m sure your pastors and the leaders of your church can as well.
God can certainly use you and your wisdom. Ask Him for some revelatory ways to do that.
Blessings my friend.