A Day to Dream

This past Saturday was the second Saturday in a row in which I had no work scheduled. Even though it was frustrating for me, it was good to have a chance for some personal time.

Last Saturday I went climbing at Tennessee Wall with Karina and our long-time friend, Kate. This past weekend I had set apart for focused and intentional dreaming.

I got in my truck on Saturday morning (after helping Karina with the dishes) and drove to the Natchez Trace. The Holy Spirit guided me to a prime dreaming location where I was able to hang my hammock between two trees which were in a field with tall grass. The weather was perfect and God would often send a cool breeze to ensure my comfort.

In October 2006 a man called Peter Daniels came from Australia to Nashville and asked me four questions. I spent most of Saturday wrestling with his challenge. These are the questions.

Question 1: What age have you set for yourself to reach your full potential that God might maximize your life?

Question 2: Could you tell me in fifty pages or more, what your full potential is in every area of your life?

Question 3: Accepting your full potential as 100%, what percentage rating would you give yourself right now?

My answer to the first question is 100 years. I reasoned this to be an acceptable age given an ever-increasing life-expectancy rate, my family history, constant advances in medical technology, and my healthy lifestyle. It's also been proven that should an individual set long-term goals, he can actually reprogram his body clock to live longer.

Of course most of my time on Saturday was spent answering the second question. In fact I'm going to need much more than a day to detail my full potential in every area of my life. Why? Because to answer the question you need to dream big. You need to realize that there are no limitations on your life and that through Christ, anything is possible.

At your full potential of 100%, you could change the world. Remember that you can never out-dream God. Anything you can conceive, no matter how grandiose, has already been considered by your Creator. Have you ever thought about that? You can't surprise God. You can't even impress Him. You can make Him happy. In fact you can make Him laugh and cry. I get chills just thinking about seeing and hearing Jesus laugh.

He knows what your life will be. He also knows what it could be if you apply your mind. Sheer power of the Will can accomplish amazing things. Read the biographies to build up a vocabulary of overcoming incredible odds. Then you'll see what you too can accomplish through acts of the Will.

Some might argue, "How do I know what God's will for my life is?" I've heard many Christians use this as an excuse to stay within their current comfort zone. They never try anything. They never risk failure or disappointment. They talk, but they never do. Accomplishment and success cannot be pursued from within your comfort zone.

Read your Bible. It says exactly what God's will for your life is. "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8. If that's too vague for you then read 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." And again, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.

He's told you what to do. He's given you the gift of choice. His plan is for you to use your God-given creativity and passions to accomplish His will. And to do that you need a plan. You need goals, written out and committed to. You can't just float along and hope to come into God's best for your life. You need to try. You need to persevere. When you fail, you need to get up again and again.

God has promised the righteous man prosperity in whatever he does. (Psalm 1) And you know that righteousness has nothing to do with you and everything to do with Christ. So do, fail, succeed, gain, accomplish, live, thrive. You can correct something but you can't correct nothing.

Take time to dream. God was intentional when He created imagination. It's not a waste of time. It's not going to happen unless you schedule it. You must plan even your time to plan and dream. And then maintain momentum by courageously opposing what is wrong and loving the Truth.

God will put wings to your faith and give flight to your dreams.

By the way, if you really want the fourth question you'll have to ask me for it.