I’m currently reading “Chase the Lion” by Mark Batterson. This book was definitely inspired by God, just like the prequel, “In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day”. I’ve had these two books for several months, never cracking open the cover until this week. It was God’s timing for me to be reading them at this moment because they have spoken right to my heart. This morning, I read these lines, “It’s not just our sin that we need to repent of. It’s our small dreams. The size of your dream may be the most accurate measure of the size of your God.” Wow!! What have you been dreaming? Are you limiting God by keeping Him and your dreams confined within a box? Do you think you are too young or too old to dream big or to even dream at all? Do you think you don’t know enough about God to dream? Or are you currently chasing a dream that’s bigger than you? Dream big, honey, dream big!! We serve a mighty God! I have some pretty big dreams right now. I’ve shared those dreams with a few people. I’m sure they probably think I’m crazy, but I’d rather be crazy chasing dreams with God than sane without Him. I’ll pray sometimes and tell God the dream in my heart (I know it was He who put it there because I certainly didn’t think it up). I always say during that prayer, “God, it’s crazy for a country girl to think this would ever happen and within myself, it’s impossible. But I serve a possibility-making God! Nothing is impossible for you, Lord!” Matthew 19:26 says, But Jesus beheld them [that means Jesus LOOKED UPON them] and said unto them, “With men, it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.” Then in Mark 9:23 the Word says, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” This dream has been in my heart for at least a year, but it began burning within me in November, just five months ago. The week of Christmas, I received an unexpected gift from a coworker. It was a Willow TreeRM angel ornament with the word “Believe” engraved on it. On the card she wrote that God was going to fulfill His promises to me and for me to just “believe”. I have that angel hanging beside my computer, so I will see it and remember God’s promises to me and believe (know) they will be fulfilled! God doesn’t expect me to understand always, but He does expect me to trust Him and believe! I thought back to one day I had gone to visit my grandparents. This was 2-3 years before God called PawPaw home. I loved spending time with them. Manette had so much wisdom and she imparted it to you without you even realizing what she was doing at the time. That precious woman’s faith was robust!! This particular day, though, PawPaw wouldn’t let her get a word in. He preached me a sermon, and then tried to take up an offering right there in the living room. He always made me laugh! God had given him insight that week into Ephesians 3:20 that he felt compelled to share with me. He went into his office and grabbed his Bible to show me (Manette gave me that same Bible after PawPaw passed away). Ephesians 3:20 reads, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Let me tie that back to God-sized dreams. You may think your dream is too big (or maybe you need to dream bigger). Maybe you are thinking it is impossible. Can I just tell you today – it is impossible within your own strength and abilities, but it is not impossible when you walk in His strength and the ability He gives you! Praise the Lord! God can do immeasurably more than we can think or imagine — all according to the power of the Holy Spirit who works within us! Honey, CHASE that DREAM! Pursue your calling with eagerness and valor! If you’ve limited God in your dream, repent and then dream bigger!
They limited the Holy One of Israel! Psalm 78:41b
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work [calling, dreams] of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58
When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:1-6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
Like what you’ve read? Read the full passage when you order a signed copy of the devotional, Reflections of God’s Grace below.
