Do you ever wonder if you're dreaming TOO big? If the things you'd like to be/attain/achieve/do in life are so far-fetched that they are completely unattainable? That maybe you should reel your thoughts in a bit and be satisfied with where you're at? Now I don't mean that you shouldn't have hopes and aspirations and such. As a whole, I don't think we as Christians dream enough at all. We don't give God the credit for being able to accomplish more than humanly imaginable through His power in us. But I have to wonder if maybe there is a point in which you encounter reality and realize that some things that you might have pictured and hope for just aren't going to happen.
Thoughts?
posted by Gretchen
[My apologies if I'm repeating our earlier conversation here, but I felt compelled to respond after reading]
Not too big, because God always has much bigger and better plans in mind than we can imagine. But I think we often dream too differently than God. Going back to my comment on non-negotiables: I think part of the reason that list has become so much smaller is because I've started to learn that as soon as I set my mind on one thing, God often shows me that his mind is set on something else that looks entirely different (and sometimes scarier!) but better than what I imagined.
In answer to your question, yes I often have to realize that the things I pictured and imagined aren't going to happen. But I usually have to give up those imaginings in pursuit of something bigger that God has given me a glimpse of.
So keep dreaming bigger and maybe one day your dreams for your life will be as big as God's dreams for you :)
I think many dreams come from God. Just ask Daniel or Jacob. Maybe the reason some Christians don't dream as big as they could is that they've got other things on their mind. It's really all a matter of focus isn't it? Sometimes the cold truth is that some dreams never come true no matter what our intentions are. Some dreams aren't in God's plan. But, I don't think that means we should stop dreaming. Some of our dreams get passed by time or by a decision that sends us another direction. I guess that shows how easily we can get in our own way of making dreams come true. I think we could always dream bigger. That's the blessing of dreams, the unending possibilities.
Thank you guys for your thoughts. It is so good to know that God has much bigger dreams for us than we can ever come up with. I am also reminded how much we need to encourage each other in our dreams, while not limiting ourselves to them.