Created to Dream

1. Dreams Are Essential for Faith and Personal Growth

"A great dream is a statement of faith."

Dreams fuel faith. God-inspired dreams are not just ambitions or goals, but statements of faith that shape our identity, purpose, and spiritual growth. They are the catalysts for personal transformation and the first step in God's process to change our lives for the better.

Dreaming is uniquely human. Unlike animals, humans have the ability to imagine and create beyond their current circumstances. This capacity to dream is a reflection of being created in God's image, allowing us to envision and work towards possibilities that don't yet exist.

Faith and dreaming are interconnected. Great faith inspires great dreams, and great dreams require great faith. When we pursue God-inspired dreams, we are exercising our faith and trusting in God's plan for our lives. This process of dreaming and believing stretches our imagination, deepens our courage, and builds our character.

2. God's Dream for You Is Greater Than Your Own

"God's dream for your life is infinitely better than any dream you could come up with on your own."

God's vision surpasses ours. While we may have our own ambitions and goals, God's dream for our lives is far more expansive and meaningful. It takes into account not just our earthly existence, but our eternal purpose as well.

Discovering God's dream requires dedication. To uncover God's plan for our lives, we must be willing to:

• Dedicate our entire life to God
• Reserve time alone with Him
• Evaluate our abilities and gifts
• Associate with godly dreamers
• Make our dream public

God's dream is custom-made. Each person has a unique SHAPE (Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experiences) that God has designed for a specific purpose. Recognizing and embracing this individuality is key to fulfilling God's dream for our lives.

3. Making Decisions Is Crucial to Pursuing Your Dream

"The decision phase is not about making quick decisions. It's about making the right decisions."

Decisions drive dreams forward. Without decisive action, dreams remain unfulfilled. The decision phase of faith requires us to invest in our dream and let go of security, often stepping out into the unknown.

Wise decision-making follows biblical principles:

1. Pray for guidance
2. Get the facts
3. Ask for advice
4. Calculate the cost
5. Prepare for problems
6. Face your fears

Overcoming fear is essential. Fear is often the root of indecision. By trusting in God's promises and moving against our fears, we open the door for God to work miracles in our lives.

4. Delays Are Opportunities for Character Development

"While you're working on your dream, God will be working on your character."

God's timing is purposeful. Delays are not denials but opportunities for growth. During waiting periods, God is often working on our character, teaching us patience, trust, and perseverance.

Responding to delays reveals maturity. How we handle God's "waiting rooms" is a clear measure of our faith. To navigate delays effectively:

• Don't fear
• Don't fret
• Don't faint
• Don't forget

Patience builds faith. The delay phase teaches us to trust God's timing and to be patient with His process. It's during these times that our faith is stretched and strengthened, preparing us for the fulfillment of the dream.

5. Difficulties Are Teachers That Strengthen Faith

"Every trial is a teacher. Every storm is a school. Every experience is an education. Every difficulty is for your development."

Challenges are inevitable. Jesus promised that we would face troubles in this world. The key is not to avoid difficulties but to learn how to respond to them in a way that builds our faith and character.

Difficulties serve a purpose. When facing challenges, we should:

1. Determine the reason
2. Determine the result (what God wants us to learn)
3. Determine our response

Our response shapes our character. We can choose to become better or bitter through difficulties. By focusing on what God is doing in us rather than what's happening to us, we can grow through our challenges and draw closer to fulfilling God's dream for our lives.

6. Dead Ends Are Gateways to God's Deliverance

"Your dead end is the doorway to God's deliverance."

Dead ends test our faith. When we reach a point where all seems lost, it's an opportunity to demonstrate unwavering trust in God's promises and power.

God specializes in the impossible. In the face of dead ends, we should:

1. Remember what God can do
2. Rely on what God has said
3. Face the facts with faith
4. Expect God to deliver

Deliverance comes in various forms. God may deliver us externally by changing our circumstances, internally by changing our perspective, or eternally through the promise of heaven.

7. Faith-Filled Gratitude Is the Key to Overcoming Obstacles

"When you thank God for something before it happens, that is faith."

Gratitude precedes miracles. Expressing thanks to God in advance of His deliverance is the highest form of faith. It demonstrates trust in His promises and power, even when circumstances seem hopeless.

Choosing to rejoice is powerful. Regardless of our current situation, we can choose to celebrate and express gratitude. This attitude of faith-filled thanksgiving opens the door for God's deliverance.

Gratitude shapes perspective. By focusing on thankfulness, we shift our attention from our problems to God's promises. This change in perspective can help us persevere through difficulties and delays, keeping our eyes fixed on the dream God has given us.

Last updated: October 11, 2024