How does God Build your Faith? Part 2: Discovering your Dream...

Greetings all!!! I figure I must post part 2 before we get to part 3 tonight! LOL  Again, these are notes that I took in Bible study on last week.  Just a recap: God puts us through a faith growing process that has 5 phases: Dream, Decision, Delay, Difficulty and Deliverance! (I went in detail, two posts ago) On Wed.of last week, Pastor Van (The Worship Center Birmingham, AL)  focused on the first phase of the process… THE DREAM!! I don’t know about yall, but sometimes I struggle with deciphering between MY dream and the Dream that God has for me. It’s HARD on your feelings when the two does not align! So any guidance that will help me to instantly know the difference is needed! Here goes…

How to discover God’s Dream for you…

Step 1)  Dedicate your entire life to GOD!! This is the first obstacle!! Your Dream determines your destiny, disposition and attitude. God needs to know that you are all in and he will not reveal his entire vision (the BIG picture) to you until YOU dedicate your time, talent, treasures, past, present and future to him. (Straddling the fence is no fun!)

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the standards of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able know what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”  Rom. 12:1-2

Pastor Van put it to us like this, either you will choose the American Dream or God’s Dream: I mean… the American dream is almost non-existent these days and at the very least God’s dream has no ceilings!

He also stressed that God created each of us personally and positively. Meaning that we are not cookie cutter and the plan he has set for our life was/is designed uniquely for us.  A lot of times people miss their dream by focusing on somebody else’s.

“Let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back…and run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.” Heb. 12:1

Step 2) Reserve time to spend alone with God!!!ßVery Important

Most times you have to be quiet to hear him speak. We should embrace solitude, most of man’s problems come because we don’t sit still.

 SN: I always ask God for signs and then I look for him to hit me with the obvious ones! You know the LOUD thunder or the book falling from the bookshelf out of nowhere. LOL  I struggle with staying consistent with my morning devotion…

“Pause a moment and listen! Consider the wonderful things God Does.” Job 37:14

Step 3) Evaluate your Abilities- Take a look and see what you’re good at and how you can use these gifts and talents for the glory of God. As I mentioned before God pre-designed a set plan for your life. Your personal experiences, skills, gifts, etc. comes together for what he wants you to accomplish. Don’t use your gifts in the wrong place. They  are meant for Serving / WORKing  the WORD that you have and Blessing – Blessing others with your talents. There are levels that you won’t reach if you neglect to use your gifts for his kingdom.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ to devote ourselves to the good deeds for which God has designed us.” Eph. 2:10

“We are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us.” Rom 12:6

Step 4) Associate with Godly dreamers!! –Continue to take inventory on the people you have in your life. Some folks are not necessarily bad people, sometimes they are just NOT NECESSARY!!! (Things that make you go HMMMMMM)

Two things that are contagious , Discouragement and Dreams! Your friends will either help or hinder you, there is no such thing as a neutral friend. When you surround yourself with other dreamers, you can’t help but to dream!  (I can vouch for this. My friends and family dream so big that I feel left out!! LOL God recently began showing me bits of my dreams and it is contagious! Everyone in my circle now seems to be on the quest to find their “Happy place” as well. )

                “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Prov. 27:17

Step 5) Make your dream public- Announce your dream because it is a demonstration of your FAITH! Three things happen when you verbalize:

1)      It gets you started

   -Accountability gets you moving

2)      Rallies Support

3)      Releases God’s power

- God’s power will keep you floating when  you do as Peter and step out into the water!

“What is Faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.” Heb 11:1 (LB)

I hope this finds a spot in your spirit as it did mine!

Keep Dreaming,

E. Louise