This question popped up seemingly out of nowhere the other day and slapped me right in the heart. It was Thursday, the first day back to work after our schools had been closed for three days by tropical storm Irma. Jesus Calling lay there open to Monday’s page…September 11…
Rejoice in Me always! No matter what is going on, you can rejoice in your Love-relationship with Me. This is the secret of being content in all circumstances. So many people dream of the day when they will finally be happy: when they are out of debt, when their children are out of trouble, when they have more leisure time, and so on. While they daydream, their moments are trickling into the ground like precious balm spilling wastefully from overturned bottles.*
Wait, did I just read caution against discontent in the form of dreaming?
My mind, skimming over words like the line on my grandfather’s fishing pole suddenly caught tight. I knew I was going to have to drop anchor and sit here for awhile. In the quiet of my soul, I pondered this nibble…
“So many people dream of the day when…”
So many people like me.
I dream of a day when my husband will be free of pain in his body, a day when he will have a career again. I dream of the two of us ministering together and making disciples in the name of Jesus.
I dream of what that might look like… selling everything, downsizing to a bungalow near a beach town, working in the local economy and sharing Jesus with beach bums, surfer dudettes, and families on vacation. (My husband even has a name… A Thong and a Prayer Ministries)
Self, you love the idea of dreaming BIG with God. You’re a dreamer. You know it. You actually love this label.
It’s “in” too…trendy, to dream BIG… Nothing’s impossible with God. In my flesh, these are mostly all impossibilities, but with Christ all things are possible.
But, daydreaming? No!
And there it is again, the tug on the line. Truth is here under the surface. I want it – the truth – Holy Spirit truth – to catch hold and come up to the surface. I want to catch this truth, reel it in and hold it.
Holy Spirit, I’m asking. What’s the difference between God-dreaming and day-dreaming?
Am I in error? Am I actually daydreaming, wasting precious time and fooling myself?
Will You reveal the deep and hidden things of my bent toward dreaming?
Will you correct me and teach me so my remaining days might be productive in building Your Kingdom, fulfilling Your good plan for my life and glorifying Your name?
Holy Spirit is answering…revealing the truth of God’s Word and showing me my own heart. In the boat with my Comforter and Teacher, my pondering fishing line is cast out seeking for a catch. Gratefully, I pull into my boat these beginning truths with the smile of my Guide offering His approval and delight.
Yes, dear one, to daydream is to become involved in wishful thinking. There is no faith in it, nor is there hope as you might suppose. Rather daydreaming will lead to a comparison of your circumstances with others, discontentment, and frustration – even anger. This kind of thinking is lazy, unproductive, and wasteful because it insists something good magically should zap you out of your current circumstances like Dorothy out of Oz.
Daydreaming – wishful thinking – is not reliant on your Savior, your Creator, in Whom and through Whom nothing is impossible. (Mark 10:27)
Rather renew your mind dear one by choosing to live in accordance with My Spirit. Allow Me to lead you into all truth, to have your mind set on what God’s Spirit desires. Submit your dreams to me…I know My plans for you. With your mind stayed on Me, controlled by the Spirit of God, you will have life and peace. (Romans 8:1-6 , Romans 12:2 & John 16:13)
Holy Spirit, I think I will sit here for awhile at this fishing hole with you. I believe there is an abundance here for me to catch with You. Thank You for bringing me here…
(to be continued)
Ponders:
- Are you asking too? What’s the difference between God-dreaming and day-dreaming?
- Have you found yourself to be daydreaming, caught up in wishful thinking rather than submitting dreams with hope to God?
- Will you ask Holy Spirit with me… to reveal the deep and hidden things of your own heart?
- Lord Jesus, will you correct us and teach us so our remaining days might be productive in building Your Kingdom, fulfilling Your good plan for our lives and glorifying Your name?
- I pray you will record the Lord’s answers to you, record Scripture and thank Him as I am thanking Him for this precious fishing expedition. Will you continue to fish here with me?
*Jesus Calling, Sarah Young, 2004 pg 266
