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. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

As a child I dreamed huge dreams.  I was going to be the first female major league baseball player or president of the United States.  I also dreamed of being a professional singer like Amy Grant, or an astronaut, or an actress.  I never felt any limits to what I could be.  I just dreamed big dreams.

One day, my dreaming changed.  Perhaps I allowed reality to change my dreams.  I was 5’3″ and could barely keep my eyes open to hit a softball, so major league baseball was not in my future.  

I feared someone telling me I could not sing on key, so I didn’t try out for choir at school.  I came close to trying out for plays in high school but chickened out.

My dreams became more practical.  I dreamed of becoming a nurse practitioner and heading overseas to serve in the mission fields.  I got a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and I took the GRE so I could get into graduate school, but I never went.  I met my husband and got married.  My dreams morphed into having a family and settling down.

Then I had children and I lost my dreams.  I was knee deep in diapers, potty training and raising my children.  I forgot myself.  At first, I didn’t have energy to dream.  Then I didn’t give myself permission to dream.  I was a mom after all; shouldn’t all of my energy be spent on mothering?

Still my heart was never satisfied.  So I asked God what He wanted me to do and what dreams He wanted me to pursue.

God had plans to use my gifts and talents in ways I never imagined.  He gave me a huge dream, one I could never achieve without Him.  It’s a dream that challenges me, fills me, allows me to give and uses the gifts God gave me.

I discovered God’s plans for us are bigger and better than we dream for ourselves.  So go ahead and ask God to give you a dream you cannot achieve without Him with a purpose bigger than yourself.  

Then ask God to show you what to do towards that dream today.  He will guide you as you pursue His purpose for your life.

Ask God what dream He wants you to pursue.  Then research practical steps you can take today to help make that dream a reality.  Write down your dream and the steps you plan to take.

Father God, thank You for giving us dreams and purposes in our lives.  Help us see the dreams You want us to pursue.  Fill us with Your Spirit so we may persevere as we work to attain the dreams You give us.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.