DREAMS
By
Tara Wentworth
Dreams – daydreams – pipe dreams! Do you dream? I do most nights but most of my dreams are “pizza dreams” – I can’t remember much about them five minutes after I have awakened and they wouldn’t be worth remembering anyway.
Has God ever spoken to you through a dream? I think I could count on one hand (maybe two) the dreams that may have been a “message from God”. But the scriptures make it very plain that God can speak to an individual through dreams to warn, correct or direct them in an area of their life. We see numerous examples throughout the Bible in the lives of men like Abraham, Joseph, Peter and Paul. So – I am going to keep my heart open for God to speak to me any way He chooses!
God also puts “dreams” into our lives – things He wants us to accomplish. They may not come at night, while you are asleep but may be cumulative from weeks, months, even years of envisioning something you feel strongly about. Some are worthy cause that you alone could never accomplish, but will need the help and resources of like minded people. Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, confessed after fifty years in ministry that he had never had a dream (at night) but said “dreams come from the Lord day and night and can be experienced in different ways – some while you are asleep and some with eyes wide open.” His dream has literally affected millions of college students and even after his death, his dream lives on.
Martin Luther King stated in his now famous speech, “I have a dream . .”. Even though he was martyred for his dream, others have picked it up and are carrying it forward. Many from very humble beginnings have dreamed and then seen come to fruition things that have influenced and affected our society in very positive ways. Some of us are called to walk along side of “dreamers”, helping them to fulfill their dream. We can “own” their dream, making it ours, by giving our time, emotions and finances to see that dream come to pass.
Many have had a dream but because of adverse circumstances, neglect, apathy and many other reasons, have let that dream die. They may become despondent, discouraged or even blaming (God or other individuals), excusing themselves, justifying the reasons this dream never became a reality. There are many dream killers. Let me mention three. Unbelief is a dream killer. Not continuing to believe in the dream because it looks like the exact opposite is taking place. Some of the greatest accomplishments have taken place after many failures and much opposition. Disobedience is a second dream killer. When you choose not to walk in the direction of your dream, allowing fear, discouragement, personal indulgence override what you have been shown. A third area that can kill or keep your dreams from coming to pass is other people’s opinions. God speaks to you but the voice of others overrides your confidence and you back down or forsake the dream. I think of Joseph, favorite son of his father Jacob, who had a dream at 17 years of age, that he would one day rule over his brothers as well as his parents. His brothers were already jealous of him and this just added hatred to the mix. They plotted against him, making sure this would not happen. Sold into slavery, incarcerated and falsely accused, he remained faithful to God and was ultimately elevated to a place where not only his brothers and family members bowed down to him, but all of
We were created by God for significance – every single one of us has a destiny that, when fulfilled, will bring great satisfaction and contentment to our lives. Think of individuals who have overcome great handicaps to rise to a place of affecting the lives of sometimes many thousands. Helen Keller and Joni Erickson Tada had major physical handicaps; Corrie Ten Boom overcame the horrible effects of a Nazi concentration camp that killed the rest of her family, forgiving her captors; James Seymour, who because of racial prejudice, had to sit outside of the classroom to learn from his teacher went on to influence many, many lives at the turn of this past century. The list is long of those who refused to allow their personal circumstances to keep them from fulfilling their God-given destiny.
What about you? Who, little ole insignificant me? What are you doing with your life? Did you have a dream that was crushed? Or have you even taken the time to dream? Are you too busy with life, doing things that will have no eternal significance?
It is not too late to start dreaming or to begin to pick up that old dream you laid down. No matter how old you are, what your circumstances, YOU can make a difference!
Psalm of Life by Longfellow
Tell me not in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream.
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they may seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not the goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returneth,
Was not spoken to the soul.
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