A new year brings new resolutions, new promises, and occasionally new dreams.
When I was a small child, I dreamt of being an FBI agent. My current role as a curator at a military museum could not be further from that childhood dream. Clearly, not a dream come true.
My husband has always dreamt of being a fishing guide and/or having a fly shop where he could pass along his love of being an angler. With the addition of a new boat in 2019, he’s begun the work of establishing a business including fish guiding and teaching classes on fishing. Dreams are beginning to come true.
There is a sense of bittersweetness when you look at dreams that have or have not come true. You can see where God’s plans were better than your own. And you begin to see how God’s timing is better than your own.
Are your dreams as big as God? What do you want for your life that you think is too outrageous?!?!? Because guess what? Nothing is too outrageous for God…He’s plans are already in the works for a dream bigger than you already dream.
Do you want to adopt a child? Start a ministry? Finish a degree? Run a marathon? (I’m not gonna lie, I’m not sure I understand why anyone “wants” to run)
It’s easy to say that you believe God is big enough to fulfill your dreams…it’s harder to actually believe that.
How can you tell if your dreams match God’s desires for you? How do you know you are dreaming “big enough”?
Christ’s Great Commission charges us with an incredible purpose: “Make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). Beyond any of our wildest dreams, we are given a purpose to make disciples…in our homes, in our churches, and in our world.
In whatever manner you seek opportunities to disciple others, the Great Commission should partner with your big dreams. This is God’s desire for your life. Filter all you do through the Great Commission.
- You dream of adopting a child? Find a Christian agency and become involved with how discipleship occurs internationally.
- You want to start a ministry? Start researching, start investing, start studying…and watch how God will give you opportunities to execute the Great Commission.
- You’re dreaming of finish a degree? Stop making excuses! Register for the classes, do the hard work of balancing life and school. Graduate. And then watch God open doors with that degree in a manner you never imagined!
- You desire to run a marathon? Train, practice, run…and sign up for a marathon. Then watch as God presents opportunities to speak about Him to others who also “want” to run.
Your dreams “so big” when matched with God’s purpose for your life, will be fulfilled. Typically, you’ll see those dreams come to fruition in a manner way larger than you ever imagined.
Here’s to 2020…where we need to dream big and watch God work!!!
Happy New Year from the Iron Porch!
~Emily
Iron Porch 