God-sized Dream = A desire in your heart for more of what God has for you.
We’re opening the door to God-sized dreams in 2013. So every week we get together to encourage each other {because don’t we all need it? yes, ma’am.}. This week Stefanie Brown is here to share about God-sized dreams with you…
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I longed for His dreams to become my dreams. What is it, Father? What have you purposed in your heart and mind for me? My life? — Stefanie Brown, Today’s Guest Poster
Dreams.
I’m not speaking of gingerbreads dancing around in our heads, nor am I referring to personal pursuits, self-serving goals designed to make our names famous. The dreams in which I refer are His dreams for us, the Jeremiah 29:11 plans He designed for us before the beginning of us.
For the longest time, dreaming was just a fantasyland where I wasn’t in control, a place where I aimlessly wondered around guided by and at the mercy of my subconscious. It wasn’t a belief that a best-laid plan was already in place, a blueprint of a life especially created for me. I thought that if I’m really good and well behaved, I might find a blessing or two along the way. Surely God smiled on those of us who worked hard to live a descent life. Surely.
Sadly, my misguided, unfortunate idea of dreaming limited who God was to me. I encapsulated Him, the limitless Creator. I boxed Him up tightly, sealing the container with doubt and fear. I doubted He had a true purpose for my life and, if He did, I feared my inadequacies would cause Him to reject me, opting to pass my purpose onto someone else.
Life took a raging turn when Psalm 139:14 came alive in my heart and life. Through the inspired words of the Psalmist, I learned I was “fearfully and wonderfully made”. Fearfully? Wonderfully? What? It was in that moment my ears perked to the whisper of the Holy Spirit, shutting out the self-deprecating words, which I had become accustomed. Instead of listening to me, I started listening to Him.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made, especially designed for a purpose, and created to fulfill a plan He has specifically crafted for me.
Stunned silence.
Monumental moment.
Life-altering thought.
Once Psalm 139:14 burst forth in my life, Jeremiah 29:11 changed shape. In believing I was carefully crafted, divinely designed, I began trusting that God did dream for me and when He dreams, He dreams BIG! (Just look at the creation account in Genesis.) It was then, I longed for His dreams to become my dreams. What is it, Father? What have you purposed in your heart and mind for me? My life?
He answered on a Tuesday night in July of 2010. I was listening to a message, one inspired by the Holy Spirit, overflowing with His power. The speaker kept asking what is God calling you to do? Where do you feel His Spirit is leading you? In the midst of the moment, in nearly audible form, He spoke directly into my heart. He spoke His call. He spoke my call. Here’s what I heard:
“You are a nurse by profession, but a writer by call.”
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever believe I would be called to deliver written words ~ any written word other than a thank you note or a birthday wish. His plan, His dream surprised me at first. Now, thanks to His transforming hand I see it, I feel it. He calls out to me, inspiring me. There’s a word just for me, a word He wants me to write, share. He speaks it into my heart, escorting me to my keyboard. It is there He releases me to use 26 letters, forming words, His words to impart His truths with those in which I’m called to minister. He direction and equipping are simply beautiful!
Please allow me to moment to encourage.
- Believe Jesus ~ believe in Him and on Him
- Believe what He says about you ~ you are fearfully and wonderfully made, especially designed for His will
- Believe He will equip you to complete your call
Jump in and dream big! God is bigger than your wildest dreams and has a dream awaiting you.
{Stefanie Brown is the wife of Dan Brown, Executive Director of LIFT Ministries. Stefanie began Zero2Three Pediatric Rehab Services which provides therapy services to children ages birth to 3 with developmental delays, however she passed the company on when she and her husband relocated to Texas. She is a blogger at UpLIFTing Words and you can also connect with her on Twitter @stefanieybrown and Facebook, Stefanie Young Brown.}
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Now it’s your turn!
Last week your challenge was to choose what you would decrease in your life so that your God-sized dream can increase. Share what you chose by linking up your post below {or telling us in the comments if you don’t have a blog}.
So we can all find each other, please include this God-sized Dreams button in your post. Also, love on your fellow God-sized dreamin’ sisters by leaving a comment on the post before yours.
For next week take this “do what you can” step for your God-sized dream: The most dangerous word for a God-sized dream is “someday.” How can you start implementing your God-sized dream {even in a small way} right where you are? You’ve just opened up some space in your life and you’ll need a proactive plan or that space will get claimed by something other than your God-sized dream–guaranteed. Write a post about what you can stop delaying and start doing then link it up here next week. {If you don’t have a blog, you can share what you did in the comments.} And if you’re thinking you’ll do this later, well…
Not sure what to do next? Start with The “Do What You Can” Plan: 21 Days to Making Any Area of Your Life Better
Want more encouragement? You’ll find it in You’re Made for a God-sized Dream: Opening the Door to All God Has for You
