Hi ,
What dreams do you have in your heart that you have pushed aside?
I asked this question of the TBYT SWAT Team this week and got some wonderful answers. They are dreaming BIG! I got answers like "run a short marathon," "find my purpose," "becoming a public speaker," "taking a dance class, becoming a fitness instructor, and running a 5K (this lady is REALLY dreaming big and it's great!)."
Our church motto is "Believe, Belong, Become." I taught a class on that process last year during our vacation bible school. The class was called, "Don't Just Talk About it, Be About it." Andrew Carnegie once said, "As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do."
I feel the same way. I have learned that 'Talk is cheap' is really true. Anybody can make empty promises. However, action costs you something. I believe if you are really serious about a goal, then you WILL take action to do something about it, no matter how small that action is.
Let me explain the Believe, Belong, Become process and perhaps that will give you some ideas on how you can dust off those old dreams and bring them to life again.
1. BELIEVE
: To pursue a dream, you have to believe that it is possible for you to achieve. I believe if you have a dream in your heart and it is a dream that will not only benefit you, but will benefit and/or inspire others, then God put that desire in your heart. And if God put it there, then I believe He will supply the knowledge, people, and resources you will need to make it happen!
But if you don't believe it is possible, then you kill that dream before it even starts. Unbelief makes you go through life blind. You don't see opportunities right in front of you or you discount them right away. You cut yourself off from the blessings God wants to birth in you, are so you are barren. Not only do you suffer in some way, but so do the people that God destined for you to help.
To increase your belief, use your imagination positively, seeing in your mind's eye God's will coming to pass in your life. Your imagination is a tool God gave you to increase your faith and hope in Him. The problem is that most people misuse their imaginations to see the worst happening and so fear, anxiety, depression, and worry rules their lives rather than faith and hope as God intended.
2. BELONG
: You need to find your tribe - another person or group of people who are working on the same (or similar) dream. Either eliminate or limit your association with unbelieving, uncommitted, or unreliable people. They will only give you reasons why your dream can't be done and discourage you. You need people of faith and commitment around you. Not only will they encourage you if you face a challenge, but they might have answers that you might not have considered to help you overcome it.
Our TBYT group is a tribe for people who want to live Spiritually, mentally, and physically healthy lives so that we can fulfill our God-given purpose. So if that is your goal, then that is the place for you!
For the dreams our SWAT Team members had, they can find runner groups online through Meetup.com, for public speaking they can join a Toastmasters International club (I was once a member and it is a great group), for purpose they can first discover their Spiritual gift and then use it to benefit their local church.
3. BECOME
: This is the action part. You take small steps to bring your dream to life. You seek God in prayer on a daily basis and ask him to reveal His purpose and plan for you that day. Again, since God put the dream in your heart, then He has already predestined the plan to help you achieve it. There's no need for you to keep taking shots in the dark. Save yourself some time and aggravation by seeking God first!
I hope this will inspire you to start working on your dreams. Life is about more than food, shelter, and clothing. You weren't put on this Earth to just get by; you were put on Earth to make a difference.
So let's get busy being about the Father's business rather than distracting ourselves with worldly busy-ness!