“As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil, for he brought me to this high position I have today so that I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:20).
These were the words of Joseph, to his brothers, who had sold him into a life of slavery. God turned his life around, since Joseph continued to trust God, and used the dreams and gifts God had given him, for good and for God’s glory.
So, What Dreams And Abilities Has God Given You?
WOW! Talk about God using a young man’s dreams for good, not for evil. So what dreams has God given to you? Are you enjoying seeing your dreams fulfilled? Or are you perhaps like a young lady mentioned in Catharine Marshall’s book “Adventures in Prayer.” She admitted never dreaming as a girl because her mother taught her that “those who hope for little or nothing will never suffer disappointment.” Sadly the young lady in that story took a routine government filing job that used just a fraction of her abilities.
There is no limit to what the combination of God-given dreams and prayer can achieve. I have seen amazing results in many areas, like finding the right life partner in Hilda, several career changes that looked overwhelming but turned out to be better than expected, moving to new cities and seeing God’s purposes in those moves, and watching our son, Daniel, develop in his trust and walk with Jesus.
Some may question whether there is a danger that our dreams may spring from our selfish human will, rather than God’s will. There are some tests for this. When a dream has passed such a series of tests, we can be certain that our heart’s desire is also God’s plan for us. Then we can pray the “Dreaming Prayer” with faith that God will cause it to happen.
So, ask yourself these questions, shared in “Adventures in Prayer,” regarding your dream…
1. Will my dream fulfill the talents, temperament and emotional needs which God has planted in my being?
This requires knowing oneself, the real person.
2. Does my dream involve taking any thing or any person belonging to someone else? Would it’s fulfillment hurt any other human being? If so, you can be fairly sure, that this particular dream is not God’s will for you.
3. Am I willing to make all relationships with other people right? I must release resentments, grudges, or bitterness, no matter how justified. These emotions will pull me away from God, the source of creativity.
4. Do I want this dream with my whole heart? Dreams are not usually brought to fruition in divided personalities. The whole heart is needed to do its part toward implementing the dream.
5. Am I willing to wait patiently for God’s timing?
6. Am I dreaming big? The bigger the dream, and the more persons it will benefit, the more likely it is to stem from the infinite designs of God.
If your heart’s desire can pass a series of tests like this, you are ready for the final necessary step in the “Dreaming Prayer.”
Hand Your Dream Over to God and Leave It in His Keeping.
There seem to be periods when the dream is like a planted seed that must be left to germinate. This is not a time for passiveness on our part. There are things we can and must do, like fertilizing, watering and weeding. This is a time for hard work and self-discipline.
Maybe it’s time to learn some new skills (writing, music, art, woodworking, cooking, raising your kids, etc.) to allow your dream to blossom. Maybe preparing your heart for the dream from God, by spending more time in God’s Word. Maybe it’s time to get an education in the field of your dream, or earning practical experience in a related career. So many more things can be done while preparing for your dream to germinate. What do you think God would have you do as you wait? ______________________.
For several years, I drove my school bus to Brantford’s W. Ross MacDonald School for the Blind. I was blessed with a 3-hour window on Friday mornings to use as I wished, but had to stay in Brantford. The Lord had me check out the Brantford Public Library, which turned out to have a huge selection of watercolour painting books. I spent hours in the library over the next few years, reading these books, signing them out, trying projects from some of the books at home, and over time developing a love and some ability to paint with watercolours.
Birth Of My Dream Of Painting For God’s Glory
One Wednesday evening several years ago, at Cornerstone Community Church, Hilda and I had just finished teaching a group of kids about Jesus, or it may have been about Elijah, which was an interesting series. It was almost Christmas time, and I sensed the Holy Spirit wanted me to do something unusual. I asked each child to stand against a wall and took their picture from the waist up. I wasn’t exactly sure what I would do with these pictures. Thankfully all of the kids and their parents were fine with having their pictures taken, and trusted me. For a couple of weeks after that, the kids asked me what I was going to do with those photos. I wasn’t even sure myself. Then one day, I sensed the Holy Spirit telling me to paint one of the kids with watercolour paints, as I had been learning from the library books. I had never tried painting any people before, and did so with some trepidation, but believed it was what God wanted me to do.
Well, the result was thrilling to me, and the kids really liked their portraits which I gifted to them. I ended up painting about a dozen portraits of the kids. That was the beginning of a dream of creating artwork, which blossomed with God’s blessing. It still continues today, and I’m using it for God’s glory. That was His plan all along.
Long before we see the fruit of our hopes, in fact the very moment a God-given dream is planted in our hearts, a strange happiness flows into us. At that moment, God’s resources are released to help us. Our praying is then at one with the will of God. Our dream becomes a channel for the Creator’s joyous and fruitful purpose for us and our world.
What dream would you like to see God help you accomplish for His glory? Take your dream through the tests listed, and if it passes, pray the “Dreaming Prayer.” Trust that God will turn your dream into reality. Hand it over to God, and do what you can with hard work and self-discipline to prepare for the time when the seed of your dream starts to germinate and blossom.
Joseph had to wait many years before His dreams came true. Hilda is working on her writing dreams in Heaven, I truly believe. I am working at my dreams of art. For several years, Hilda and I had dreamed and had slowly prepared to launch this website, to encourage people to trust in Jesus. Someday I believe that Hilda and I will work together in some similar way, serving our Lord Jesus in Heaven using our talents.
Jeremiah 29:11 is Hilda and my life verse as a couple. God says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
God has given good gifts to you. Trust in Jesus, as your Saviour and Lord. Let the Holy Spirit to guide you every day. God will give you dreams that bring Him glory. Surrender these dreams in prayer to God, and see what He will do with them. 🙂
