Sounds like a tall order doesn't it? But I think you'll see that it's what we're expected to do. But you might say, "I've tried that and it didn't work. I'm still sitting in the same place I was. Maybe it's not God's will for me to dream big."
God formed man, the crown of His creation, to dream God-sized dreams. If we are in His image (Genesis 1:26), then we have His dreams inside of us. Let's walk through some suggestions to move you to that exhilarating place of anticipating God's best.
Identify What's Blocking You
Start by taking stock of what might be blocking your way.
First, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, identify any areas that might be holding you back. God wants us to receive all that He has for us, so He will be faithful to identify these areas for us -- once we are quite clear in ourselves that we really want to know.
Next, ask for the necessary change in the areas you've identified. (James 4:2)
Then, either make the changes the Holy Spirit indicates, or submit yourself to the change that He Himself will make in you. This will become clear as you spend time in the Word and in prayer. Consider daily communion and perhaps a period of fasting and prayer.
Finally, receive the manifestation of change.
Change Your Perspective
Now you're ready to stop thinking from inside the situation. Move your thinking outside of your circumstances and into your dream. That's one of the attributes that sets man apart from the rest of God's creation, not only the gift of dreaming, but the ability to step into the dream, causing it to become vision.
Don't confuse this with setting goals. A goal is a stepping stone, a position to be attained along the way, while a vision is a point of reference from which you're actually able to operate before you get there -- a gift God has given to man enabling him to see with heavenly perspective. Your perspective must not only be from within the specific vision, but must be even bigger. Adopt a godly perspective; after all, you are seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).
What's Your Expectation?
Now, you must expect from God, and you must expect BIG! Know Who it is you're petitioning and expect accordingly. And don't ask until you're ready to expect! Anything less is an insult to God. Sound harsh? Reread our study called El Shaddai ? Giving, Asking & Receiving. When what you are asking is for His glory, according to His will as outlined in His word, He will not fail you. It's really quite simple ? He's either God or He's not.
How is this possible? How do you get to the place of this kind of expectation? By receiving a revelation of God's love for you personally. Once you get hold of this, along with an understanding of covenant (see our study entitled Whose Battle Is It?), you are ready for expectation to do it's job and make room for the expected blessing.
A couple of months ago I was blessed with a new bedroom set, a huge sleigh bed, a dresser and a nightstand. I arranged with the furniture store for a delivery date, but of course I had to move the old furniture out of the room first. How silly would it have been for me to wait and see if they would actually deliver the furniture before taking steps to make a space for it? I expected them to make good on their word, and even if something delayed delivery a day or so, I knew it was coming. I even painted the bedroom while I was waiting! If I can trust a furniture company with that level of expectation, how much more the God Who stepped off His throne and saved and delivered me and assured me of eternity in His presence?
We know what it looks like, this kind if expectation. It is the very atmosphere of receiving, and true expecting is solid faith, the kind in Hebrews 11:1, and it always makes room for the dream to become a reality.
Expectation builds an ark, even when no one has ever seen rain and the neighbors are taunting (Genesis 6:11-7:13). Expectation bubbles over with joy into laughter at a baby in the arms of a nonagenarian (Genesis 21:6). Expectation lovingly names every animal on the face of the earth while anticipating at any moment the perfect helpmate to appear (Genesis 2:18-23). Expectation boldly speaks the Gospel of the risen Lord to a crowd of thousands who would like to think you're drunk on wine at 9:00 in the morning (Acts 2:13-41). Expectation takes the hand of a crippled beggar at the gate Beautiful and boldly instructs him to stand for the first time since birth (Acts 3:6,7).
Expectation takes God at His word, and not only holds Him to His word, but holds to that word of promise, regardless of the circumstances. Expectation is the atmosphere for miracles; it opens the door of the supernatural into the natural. Be like Paul in Philippians 1:20, and "eagerly expect and hope" that God is a god of His Word and if He said it, He is also able to perform it beyond your wildest dreams (see Ephesians 3:20) ? don't slam the door on your manifestation. Dream and then expect as big as God!
?2005 Karin S. Syren ? All rights reserved
Karin Syren is the owner of So-lu'shunz Management Services and a certified coach specializing in executive mastermind coaching as well as issues faced by those in leadership positions. Using the unique EffectivenessCoachingTM model developed by Ms. Syren, she offers guidance in discovering mission, creating vision and designing goals for life and business. She has a particular desire to help people better identify the issues facing them, and to coach them through the steps in gaining, regaining, and maintaining control of their circumstances. Please see her website for details at http://www.solushunz.com
kitchen deep cleaning Deerfield ..People rarely live up to a hundred years of age... Read More
Breaking with tradition, today's article comes from the 9-23-04 edition... Read More
The world's idea of justice and freedom fall short of... Read More
Today is the day that I'm getting back into exercise.... Read More
The first gospel written by Matthew,who is Levi, is the... Read More
Prayer doesn't just happen when we kneel or put our... Read More
Each time our children graduate from one stage to another... Read More
Last NAN I explained how to petition the female Saints... Read More
Freedom....The cherished goal of humanity throughout its history.No society has... Read More
I am disturbed by the tendency of some people to... Read More
Have you ever noticed how much our lives resemble a... Read More
One of the most touching stories in New Testament scripture... Read More
In the year 2000, I went on a mission trip... Read More
With another year full of family events coming upon us,... Read More
Someone asked me the other day what was the most... Read More
In the responsibility we have as Christians, we are displayed... Read More
In an edition of Reader's Digest, I stumbled upon a... Read More
Dreams take us not into ourselves, but out of ourselves.... Read More
He knew it was going to happen. He wasn't really... Read More
Faith is the remarkable force that gives us the empowerment... Read More
We know that David did much to stabilize the Kingdom... Read More
Before the movie "Finding Nemo", came out Steve Jobs the... Read More
A subject of debate for thousands of years, spirituality will... Read More
Iktomi:Another and somewhat longer term correspondent of mine is a... Read More
The psalms of the Bible are a literary treasure chest... Read More
interior house cleaning Highland Park ..Divining Rods, also known as Dowsing Rods, have been used... Read More
Let me say that marketing can be a corrupting experience.... Read More
Many of us are on an inward or outward path-to... Read More
Spending 'Quiet Time' with the LordFrom the beginning of my... Read More
An exam is a test that is given at the... Read More
Even though our lives progressively moves forward on occasion it... Read More
(Channeled) Spirituality is about everyday life, which includes getting up... Read More
I am disturbed by the tendency of some people to... Read More
As I listen with pastors and preachers in the body... Read More
Often, in being dishonest about our own faults and failures,... Read More
The Orisha are the Messengers of Oludumare, the God/dess of... Read More
Connor, a man in his late 40's, has achieved everything... Read More
A spiritual event is what happens in every moment of... Read More
"There must be a higher love/Without it life is wasted... Read More
"Spirit is beyond the void of space. This realm, beyond... Read More
"For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisors... Read More
You decide! We are often asked to make decisions. Decision... Read More
A while back the Lord had given me this message... Read More
In His graciousness, God has blessed us to enter a... Read More
Faith is the remarkable force that gives us the empowerment... Read More
Most of our troubles are bought about by exercising our... Read More
There is an inherent generosity in the human spirit to... Read More
I beheld the sky and its wonders and saw AstonishmentI... Read More
It doesn't matter what magazine or newspaper you pick up... Read More
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.... Read More
Spirituality |