I believe God’s specific calling on your life can be closely related to a dream you’ve always had. That’s because when God has a dream for His daughter, He often begins whispering that dream on her heart when she is still a child.
Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Since God has long been dreaming of you to live out certain works He planned for you long ago, He has probably been trying to get you to see how you are His masterpiece…and what it is He’s longing for you to live out.
When we’re children, it’s easier for us to discern God’s dream on our heart. Back then, before the voice of reason entered in, we could hear His whisper: You are my ballerina…dance for me. You are an extension of My voice…sing for Me. You are my work of art, shine brightly for me.
But as we age, and as critical voices come our way, we tend to lose sight of the dreams we once had during childhood…dreams our Maker was perhaps whispering on our hearts.
Ask a parent or a sibling or someone who knew you as a child what you talked of becoming when you grew up. Ask them what you played with and what it was you would “make believe.” Those are the days we dreamed big, believed we could fly, and thought the sky was the limit. Maybe you wanted to be a princess. Don’t underestimate what God was saying through that. Perhaps He was reaffirming to you that you could do anything you set your mind and heart to…because you were a daughter of the King.
I remember wanting to be a librarian and a school teacher when I grew up. I loved books. And I loved the idea of teaching. I had many ‘school houses’ in my room with my dolls and stuffed animals. I even remember writing stories for them and teaching them out of books I bound myself. Today, God has blessed me with the opportunity to teach others through writing books and speaking.
What did you once love to do? Or, what did you talk of doing someday? And what elements are in that dream that God can use today as He shows you His dream and calling for your life?
I would love to help you put together the puzzle in order to discern God’s dream on your heart.
my dream for 2013 is to go to Italy in may with a Christian group. I am a woman with special needs– I have a walker and I would need assistance. please pray that the LORD will make a way for me to go.. I need finances also. thank you
Elena: My prayer is that God will go before You into this and provide the assistance you need, the finances you need and the confidence you need that He is in this. Thank you for dreaming big…and leaving it in the hands of a Big God!!
My dream is to be a psychologist working with school children and adults. Right now I am a teacher who is hard of hearing (I wear hearing aids) and struggling working in large groups of children. I am about to be suspended for 15 days with no pay. I am depressed and feel like my life is one big mess. I don’t know what to do. Any advice and prayers?
I’m sorry, Stephanie, that you’re discouraged right now. It has always been a huge comfort to me to know that nothing takes God by surprise…so He knew this season of discouragement would come your way. I encourage you to trust the process He is allowing in your life and draw closer to Him during it. Sometimes He leads us to a “dry” place to show us that all we really need is Him, not the dream, to fulfill our lives. My guess is that this is a time of “pruning” in your life. See John 15:1-8 and remember that “every branch that DOES bear fruit he prunes so that it will be EVEN MORE FRUITFUL” (verse 2). Keep your eyes on the “even more fruitful” which is sure to come. : ) I am keeping you in my prayers.
I wanted to be many things when I was little; a teacher, a beautician, a chef, and to live on a farm. Being a teacher was the only dream my father approved of so I earned my teaching credential. But as life has unfolded over my 54 years I see God’s hand in all the deams He whispered to me…just not like I thought it would be. Today I work with special needs preschoolers in an Early Intervention Preschool Program, I teach Sunday school 2 services every week and have a child care program for our Youth group. I studied to become a makeup artist “for fun” and now work as a makeup artist and Beauty Editor for a fashion magazine catering to 40+ women. I delight in nurturing my family and friends with my cooking. I am known for several dishes and baked goods. We have a big enough yard that we have a small barnyard and have had MANY animals over the years (treasured memories for our now adult children!), I am an avid gardener of flowers, fruits and vegetables. Everyone that has contact with me through all my interests knows I follow Jesus! I stand back and am awestruck as I see how God worked all His whispers into my life His way to touch others. I am GRATEFUL and HUMBLED every day for all He has blessed me with and strive to serve Him through it all:-)
Thank you, Chery. What a great summary of how God took all your childhood dreams and allowed you to live them out in one way or another. Yet part of it was you going boldly into those areas, not just waiting for it all to happen. I wish every woman had a similar story of bold determination, yet trust that God would pave the way. Thanks for sharing how God can pull it all together and, through it all, fulfill us in Himself. : )