Those who are just afraid to dream. Those who understand their dreams but they seem unreachable. Those who reach their dreams.
I have fallen in all three categories, but without a doubt, the third category is the most satisfying. What we really want is to be satisfied, but that comes with its own challenges, doesn't it?
My emotions used to be very well-hidden, buried under more than 250 pounds of flesh. I never wanted them to raise their ugly heads or be noticeable in public. I just wanted them to stay put and act nice, not get all in a wad where I'd have to deal with them. I've learned, though, that life is messy so we might as well feel it. But that lesson was a long time coming. I have always valued what I know much more than what I feel. Many times though, actually most of the time, my behaviors ruled me. For years, my emotions were partnering with the evil one to end my physical existence on this earth. I was allowing the thief to steal, kill and destroy me (see John 10:10) He really has no authority to do this unless I allow him to, but because he was plying me with sweets, I fell right into his trap.
Every year since 2013, God has given me a word for the year. The word for 2018 was "humility." That word has come alive in a soft and gentle way for me this year and has given me an even more solid foundation to go forward into 2019. In 2019, God is changing things up giving me three words. This will be a year of deeper clarity as I learn more about vision, insight and discernment. When He gave me these three words, I assumed one of them was the word and others were descriptive of that one. However, the more I study these words, the more I realize they define a process. Throughout this year I hope to have much more clarity about this process, but here is where I am starting.
Every Sunday morning on my Facebook page I ask a question such as, "What's your Scripture verse for today?" Most every time, I get some version of this verse. "'For I know the plans that I have for you,' says the Lord, 'plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope'" (Jer. 29:11). It's no wonder that this verse is one of the most popular in today's culture. Google searches for Jeremiah 29:11 began to rise in November 2008 and has continued as Christians and the general population at large sees a need for a touch point. It is comforting to know that whatever happens, God has a plan for us.
God has amazing dreams for us, but many of us live our entire lives not coming close to reaching those. As I think about this, I see we fall into three categories:
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