On the last night of the C.L.A.S.S. Writers’ Conference, B.G. Nevitt spoke and told us that “God’s dream lives in us.” What a moving message; it caused me to do some serious soul-searching. To close out the conference Gerry Wakeland, C.L.A.S.S. President asked us to write our dream on a piece of paper and bring it forward and “ceremonially” give it back to God.
This question flashed through my mind:
Whose dream are you pursuing?
Yours or God’s?
Today’s Scripture Reading: Acts 17:16-18:3, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5:11
I’ve always been a goal-setting type of person. One of my favorite classes to teach is called Prayerfully and Proactively, Planning and Prioritizing. Most of time prayer is the missing piece in goal-setting.
Can we be prayerful and proactive when there’s so much demanding a reaction?
Can we know our dreams are God-given?
In today’s reading the Apostle Paul gave us a filter to run every dream, vision, goal, priority or task through to help us pursue God’s plans for our lives rather than our own selfish desires:
For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people (*or ourselves). He alone examines the motives of our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 (emphasis, *comment mine)
If our purpose for being on this earth is to please God
Then
Let’s send dreams, our visions, our goals, our plans, our priorities, and even our daily tasks through the purpose filter. If it makes through to the other side, it’s a good dream, vision, goal, priority or task; if not we should toss to the side to wait for God’s best!
Is this realistic?
I think so.
If and this is a big if
If we are willing to wait for God’s best.
As I look to 2011 with excitement, I pray that my focus will be to please God and Him alone.
What dreams do you have for 2011?
Heavenly Father, show us Your purpose. Breathe the passion of Your dreams into our hearts. Help us to wait for your dreams. Use us for Your Glory.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen and Amen!
Click here to visit blog
©2010, Dianne Guthmuller
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-3:18, Acts 18:4-23
