God’s power

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Stop for a moment and think back to when you were a child. Do you remember all the dreams you had? Maybe you dreamt of being a major league baseball player, or a famous singer, or an actress. Then life hit and reality set. You began to look at numbers, statistics, and slowly your dream began to die. In fact, perhaps you quit dreaming at all and settled for the easy, the predictable, the nine-to-five. Which isn’t bad. Predictability and rational thinking puts food on the table.

But what if … God has more planned? Great works which He prepared—for you—in eternity past.

A few weeks ago, I told you about the Lifeway editor who’d always wanted to be a missionary to India. That’s a specific dream. In many ways, an unrealistic dream. And as the years ebbed by, and she watched others join the mission field, perhaps she thought she’d missed her chance. She turned forty, and her hair began to gray. She turned fifty, and her energy waned. Then came sixty, and seventy, and retirement followed. Retirement. The end of productivity, of dreams. She turned eighty when many her age moved to nursing homes. Some died.

And this was where her dream emerged, only not in the way she expected. Oh, no. God’s plan was much more glorious! At eighty years old, God showed her she had a new work to do. She began to write for Christ to the World Ministries and today her dramas broadcast across the globe. Instead of reaching one small village, one small city, God opened doors and helped her to reach an entire country! Not just one country, in fact, but 32, through radio waves.

What’s your dream? Why are you here? What does God want to do through you? Dream big, my friend!

It doesn’t matter how old you are, how many times you’ve “failed”. It’s not about your talent, your strength, your wisdom. It’s about drawing near to God and surrendering to the dream He’s birthed within you.

Psalm 18:31-36 (NLT)

God arms me with strength,
and he makes my way perfect.
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
You have given me your shield of victory.
Your right hand supports me;
your help has made me great.
You have made a wide path for my feet
to keep them from slipping.

If God’s behind you, there’s nothing you can’t do. He will perfect the plans He has for you.

I join with Paul in “asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of His call. May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.” 2 Thessalonians 1:11

Dream big and move forward in confidence, but keep a lose hold on the reins. If God birthed the dream, He WILL bring it about. But it may not be in the way you expected. He may have something even better in mind.

We know God will only bless those things that are consistent with His will. So, how can you tell if your dream’s from God? Come back Tuesday to read Henry McLaughlin’s thoughts on discerning God-given dreams.

Let’s talk about this!

Join me at Living by Grace as we talk about those long-forgotten dreams buried beneath rational thinking and what God might want to do with them.

Not to sound cliché’, but it’s an important question to ask: What might you attempt if you knew you could not fail? As you think about that, remember the power of the God who stands behind you. Remember His promises recorded in Scripture. All things are possible with Him. It is not by power nor by might, but by His Spirit. You are more than a conqueror. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. You have the mind of Christ. Your cloud of witnesses are watching, cheering in expectant anticipation.

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A few days ago I shared a post entitled, “Keep Rowing,” based on a novel I was reading at the time. In the story, Eddie Snipes, the author, paraphrased the biblical account of when the apostles found themselves stuck in a boat rowing against a violent storm. The jest of Edie’s message was, God knew that storm was coming, yet He had His disciples row against it anyway. Oh, how we’d like to avoid all the storms in life, but through out Scripture, God promises the storms will come. Our first inclination might be to run for cover, which we should do–but not under a rock. Instead, we must plant ourselves on The Rock–the Creator and our Redeemer. When we do, His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

I love today’s devo by Patty Wysong because it reminds me that God’s power and care is not dependent on me–my strength and size. Like the tiny hummingbird flittering through the storm, I too can strand strong because my Savior lives inside me.

Be Like a Hummer by Patty Wysong

I love hummingbirds. They constantly astound me. Awhile ago, during a pretty intense storm we stood at the windows and watched the trees whipping and branches falling. And the hummers. Those little birds didn’t let the high winds and sheets of rain deter them—they zipped back and forth between the feeders and the trees, barely fazed by the storm. 

At one point there were two hummers at a feeder and when the wind suddenly gusted, they both faced into the wind and kept flying. As I watched, I saw one drop closer to the ground and manage to slowly fly forward, but the other was pushed backward and into the trees that line the creek.

Both hummers kept flying until they were able to latch onto something. Then they were back to the feeders for another snack. Their persistence in the face of the storm wowed me. And shamed me. How many times do I get a little wind in my face and decide it’s time for me to hunker down? And that’s not even storm winds. In the storms of life I tend to head for my rock—the one I like to hide under. But that’s not the rock we’re supposed to run to.

When the storms of life come, we’re to keep flying and get to our Rock. Yanno, our ROCK: Jesus.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;

my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

~Psalm 18:2 NAS

When we run to that Rock,  we can take refuge—hide—there with Him. That’s very good news to me because I’m a hider.

He will cover you with His pinions,

and under His wings you may seek refuge;

His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

~Psalm 91:4 NAS

Knowing that I can run to my Rock and crawl under is so very comforting to me! When life’s storms start howling, I can face into the wind and keep flying, just like those little hummers did, and fly back to my Heavenly Father. There, with the God of all comfort 2 Corinthians 1:3 I’m safe and secure under His wing. 

So when the storm starts howling around you and the wind has life whipped into a frenzy, be like a hummer and just keep flying. Fly straight to Jesus, our ROCK and redeemer. He will tuck you close under His wing and shelter you from the storm. And like a hummer we can dart back and forth, safely, knowing that His eye is on us, ever watchful. Our rock, our fortress, our deliverer. What more could we ask for?

Patty Wysong, a home executive with over 20 years of experience, homeschools three of her five children, but don’t let that fool you. She spends much of her time working on what God has placed in her hand: her keyboard. From the corner of her living room she writes inspirational fiction, devotionals, blog posts, and teaches online blogging workshops. You’ll also find her drinking kool aid from her china cup, preparing for the ladies Bible study she leads, and helping at their church.

Patty learned about blogs and blogging the hard way and now delights in teaching and helping others, sparing them that frustration so they can focus on what God has called them to do. Through her writing, Patty has found the extraordinary God in her ordinary life.

Find out more about Patty and her writing by visiting:
her blog: Ordinary Lives www.pattywysong.com
Jewels of Encouragement – www.jewelsofencouragement.com
The Barn Door – www.thebarndoor.net