During the Autumn season, change is most evident and visible in nature. In Ontario, Canada, the colour of the leaves changing brings a lot of warmth to many, including me. My brother and I were driving last week and he said, “Isn’t it crazy that we find the dying leaves to be beautiful?” I let that thought sink in and said, “You’re actually SO right! Everyone takes pictures, go hiking, and indulge in the Fall drinks and fashion.” What if that’s how we looked at our lives? Looking at the thing that are “dying” as an indicator that change is happening and that the death of the old will bring something new? My brother then concluded, “Even though the leaves are dying now, what will come next Spring may be better than what we got this year.” Wow, just so profound. Gotta hand it to the bro – he’s got some wisdom up in that noggin that surprises me everyday ❤ .
With this Thanksgiving season, I hope and pray that you’re still able to spend time with loved ones. Most importantly, I pray that you’re able to take time and thank God for everything. There have been many posts on having conversations around the Indigenous lives here in Canada as a conversation prompt – do that too! This year I was personally reminded of the last residential school that closed down in 1996 in Saskatchewan. I share this because I value the education and upbringing of children and youth, and for those who may not have known about such schools.
Read more on Residential Schools.
This post is about dreaming, and dreaming with God. How do I do that? Here are 3 points on how to dream big with God.
- Dream big.
The sky’s the limit, as it’s been said. God can do more than the sky. In Genesis, Abraham and Sarah laughed at the idea of having a child at age 100 and 90, respectively. Even after laughing and denying to God that she laughed, exactly when God said Sarah would conceive, she did.
“Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” – Genesis 18:14
One year ago, I didn’t expect to be working where I work, living where I do, and serving in the capacity I am and am hoping to. This time last year, I was anxious and uneasy. I was transitioning from what I was used to, to an unchartered territory or idea of commuting to and from Toronto just to get to work. I was hoping to live on my own, but what happened? Instead, I painted my room and am still living at home with my family. These are only two of the many unmet expectations that surpassed my hopes, one year ago. What is it this year that God has blessed you with that you didn’t expect to have or be? Thank God. - Centre your desires around what you truly want.
“delight yourself in the lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – psalm 37:4
Your desires matter. You can consider what your friends, family, and mentors desire for you, but what matters most is what YOU want. If these things are really important to you, God knows already. However, centre what you want with what you know God wants for you. Abraham and Sarah wanted to grow a family, but how could they do that if they focused on what others wanted for them? The same goes for you – know that God is taking care of the process behind the scenes. Order that package and trust that God will deliver it in His time. Thank God. - Prepare for those desires to unfold in God’s will.
Do you remember Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 9-11? “…Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
Was God going to forget His daughter? She prayed an authentic prayer and we discover later in verse 20 that Samuel is born, “And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”
Be encouraged to pray to God as Hannah did! Are you distressed and feeling bitter about it? No worries, Hannah was too. The prayers that make the biggest difference and transformation in my hurting heart, are the ones that are prayed with no filters. No need to sweeten your words when you talk to God. Talk to Him as you would a close friend and just let Him know what’s burdening you! He won’t forget you. Thank God
Pray:
Thank You Lord, that I’m not where I wanted to be, but exactly where You need me. I submit my projects, relationships, work opportunities, aspirations for any and everything (school, work, travel, finances, etc). I praise You that even though I’m not 100% sure of where You’re leading me, that I can trust that you know where You’re leading me. I don’t want to be in the driver’s seat of my life, that’s where You belong. So please take the wheel as I hold the life plan map that I’ll be holding here in shotgun. I trust Your plan for me, take me where you need me to be in Your time. For those unexpected detours , I pray that You help me accept then and drive them with You even still. You’re the God of my life, so here are my dreams. Amen.
LifeisaBeaut ❤
L I F E I S A B E A U T 