The excitement of a new year has settled. So… now what? Countless proclamations of greater focus, better behaviour, and new life start-ups. But are you REALLY ready this time to see it through?
ARE YOU PREPARED TO PULL OFF WHAT YOU PROCLAIMED?
Weak lungs can’t sustain life. Only the process of taking in and pushing out… taking in and pushing out the gift of oxygen can make them strong enough go the distance.
Same thing for your future. A dream will only take up space unless you breathe life into it and transform it into VISION. Use these 3 life-affirming strategies to pull it off and resuscitate the dream so it might live beyond your check-list:
YOU MAY BE AN ISLAND NOW, BUT GOD IS YOUR OCEAN
God would not give you a dream and leave you alone to fulfill it. His provision is all around. He is the source AND the resource. Supplier AND problem-solver. Meet with Him. Take a coffee with Him. Collaborate and strategize with Him more than anyone else, and be amazed at how like-minded people are drawn to your future.
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ASKING & BEGGING (and YES, there IS a difference)
“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” John 16:24
Begging is birthed through uncertainty and a lack of focus. Asking requires reasoning and thought. Are you asking for something that God can put His name on? Did He reveal the opportunity or are you “just doing you”?
In the early 90’s, I was a laid-off single mom with a 3 year old who had never had a Christmas tree. I was trying to walk the line between asking and begging. My son was beginning to recognize the holiday, but he also realized that we didn’t have a tree. Money just wasn’t there, and the anxiety of not being able to provide a tree cut me deep. The situation was desperate, but I wasn’t. I asked God for guidance. He intervened. A former co-worker I had not seen in years was convicted, made the sacrifice, and I got to experience holiday joy through my son’s eyes. He didn’t even care about the gifts that year! My dream was now reality. I was amazed.
Our Father says to ask, so do it.
Ask God first, look for the opportunities worthy of His name (seek), then lay down your pride for His glory (knock) and go for it.
And finally,
KNOW AT THE END OF YOUR ROPE IS THE BEGINNING OF GOD’S GRACE
You’re smart. If you need to ask if you can pull it off, that means no matter how gifted, anointed, and intelligent you are, you know there is always a real possibility of FAILURE… but GOD. As you do all you can, trust that God has your back. And once you have done all He asked you to do, STAND.
Yes, you Go-Getter. Yes, Thundercat… STAND.
Be still long enough to assess the situation and see the results believing that God’s capacity is bigger than your competency. Then start getting comfortable with giving proper credit.
What other option do you have? Turn back? No. Not this time. At the end of your rope is the beginning of God’s grace. Hold on.
So, what BIG dream are YOU pulling off in 2018?