Alameda and Elsewhere

“God gives us different passions so that everything He wants done in the world will get done.”
Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life

Do you remember finding a dream that you just couldn’t wait to pursue? You faced every day with a new (perhaps renewed!) enthusiasm and resolve! Sometimes, however, as we each wait for our dream to take shape, mature and come to fruition, we lose sight of what originally inspired us to have such a dream or vision. In the everyday efforts of pursuing a dream — which often means “roll up our sleeves” and “get to work”– we forget some of the things that motivated us early on: the excitement of using our abilities more fully, of helping others, and finding a purposeful life. Instead, we often get de-railed, or discouraged. When those times occur, it is especially helpful to go back to the basic issues to “get back on track.”

The “Basics”
We talked about the importance of making sure we have drawn upon the deep heart desires God has given us, and of trusting that He will be a partner in granting those desires and in making our plans succeed. We talked about the growing of our dream, and that it will likely go through different stages. In the meantime, we are also growing in character and wisdom to equal the dream we have embraced. (See Getting Back to Basics, Part 1, August 2005, http://www.followyourheart.info/articles/art200508pr.html)

What else is there to think about? Speaking from my own experience, I believe it is helpful to look again at God’s promises and remember their initial offer of hope when we first discovered our dream. They can continue to offer hope and inspiration as we follow that dream. The last chapter of my book, Follow Your Heart and Discover God’s Dream for You, is called “Promises to Keep You Going.” That chapter was written because in writing that book, and as I completed the book and sought a publisher, there were many times of testing and uncertainty. Sometimes I wondered if my efforts where a whim, sometimes they were intimidating, and sometimes I wondered if they would ever succeed at all.

What I did when those occasions happened was to first look at the things we have been reviewing. I went through a checklist, and you can do the same, asking:

• does my dream really motivate me and incorporate my strongest passions?
• did I pick the dream that “won’t let go”, even though there were reasons why it might not have been the most logical dream? (When I returned to that dream it was immediately clear that I had a peace about it, in spite of the uncertainties surrounding it. Could peace be God’s homing device to guide and direct us to our destination?)
• do I understand my dream has to go through several stages and “grow”?
• do I trust God to fulfill my dream according to His timing and purpose, and to give up any “perceived” control of my own?

After answering those questions with a strong “yes”, and knowing that no other dream so completely captured the deep passions within I felt God had given me, I resolved to trust Him to see my dream blossom and grow. (And I am glad I did!)

God’s Promises
What I did next was to keep returning to God’s promises— they were what really “kept me going.” I believe He plants His desires for our life within us, until those desires grow, become stronger, and catch our attention. He certainly is interested, then, in helping and seeing those very desires fulfilled. I was interested in the promises that spoke to these issues, and what might be required of me to do.

One of the key things I realized is that God is deeply involved in our dreams and lives. He has given us “his very great and precious promises.” (2 Peter 1:4)
I decided to take them at face value, and assume they mean exactly that they say.
(Without trying to over-analyze them.)

• I “willed” myself to believe them, because my will has more power than my feelings.
• I was willing, if it depended on my action or response, to take that step.

So, what were some of the promises that kept me and my dream going? I am going to concentrate on our heart’s desires, on guidance, and on joy and abundance. To me these were key promises that spoke of an active involvement of God on our behalf– in our yearnings, in guiding and watching over us, in counseling us, and in giving us life “to the full.”

Heart’s Desires:
“Delight yourself also in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Ps. 37:4)
“May he give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” (Ps. 20:4)

Guidance:
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go: I will counsel you and watch over you.” (Ps. 32:8)
“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you
In the way you should go.” (Isa. 48:17)

Joy/Abundance:
“Until now ;you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (Jn. 16:24)
“…I am come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (Jn. 10:10)

Our Mission
Finally, in addition to believing God’s promises, I believe too that our mission in life is a law “written in our members”. God has already revealed His will for us relating to our vocation and mission. We start to discern that will as we discern the motivations and talents we have been given. This discernment is what started me on my own dream journey, a journey I share with all dream seekers. I felt I was being true to myself, and to true to whatever gifts or abilities God had given me.

It is my hope that as you follow your heart and dreams, you will continue to discover the purposes He has for your life and talents. May you trust in Him and His promises to you to keep you going forward. May the “desires of your heart” also come true!

Happy dream journey,

Judy Peterson

©Copyright 2006 - Judy Peterson. All Rights Reserved.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008 at 10:48 pm and is filed under Great New Age Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.