Post by Betty on May 21, 2005 7:18:39 GMT -5
See Your Dreams Come True
By Whitney Hopler, Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
What do you dream about? How would you like God to bless your life? Whatever your dreams are, you can be sure that God is rooting for you. He has placed desires within you, and His dreams for your life are even bigger than any you can dream yourself.
But what can you do when your dreams aren't yet fulfilled? How can you arrive at the destiny God has prepared for you?
Here are 10 tests we all must go through to see our dreams come true. Once you pass them, you can follow God into your destiny!
** The pride test. Ask God to reveal pride that's holding you back. Understand that your true identity is in Christ - not in what you accomplish. Recognize that your worth comes from the fact that you're one of God's beloved children and remember that without Him, you can't do anything. Ask God to give you the confidence you need to be secure in who you are, no matter what your current circumstances. Don't brag about your dreams; when you discuss them with others, keep the focus on God rather than yourself.
Spend time with God in prayer every day and let your time in His presence humble you and remind you of His unconditional love for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you discern which of your dreams are from God and which are not. Let go of dreams that are not from God so you can free up time and energy to pursue the ones that are from Him. Then, rather than focusing mainly on a specific dream, pursue the One who has given you that dream - God Himself.
** The pit test. Know that all of us sometimes go through situations that feel like "the pits" - times of suffering that surprise us. Recognize that "pits" are a natural part of life in our fallen world. If you've played some part in causing yourself to fall into a pit, acknowledge your own responsibility. If other people's actions have put you in a pit, don't waste time blaming them. However you came to be in a pit, know that you can trust God to get you out if you call upon Him for help. Rather than focusing on your circumstances, focus on God's faithfulness. Remember that nothing is too hard for God. Know that, no matter how big your pit is, God is big enough to get you out of it. Don't complain; instead, humbly call out to God for help.
** The palace test. Realize that God is watching to see whether or not you can be trusted with little things before He decides to give you bigger things. Show God that you're a faithful steward of all the resources He has entrusted to you. Be honest, even when no other person is looking. Work hard at all you do, even when it seems like no reward awaits you for doing so. Know that God really does want you to prosper in all aspects of your life - your family, your job, your health, etc. Understand that the key to experiencing success is God's presence in your life, the key to His presence is your obedience to Him, the key to obedience is faith to believe what God has said, and the key to faith is hearing the Word of God. So get to know the Bible and watch your faith increase. Then, as faith comes, obedience will follow. When you obey God, God will honor you with His presence. Then He will pour out His blessings into your life.
** The purity test. Understand that sexual morality has everything to do with character. Know that sexual impurity will affect everything else in your life, because it opens the door to a host of other sins. Don't compromise in this area of your life if you want God to bless you. Realize that sexual sin will powerfully damage your relationship with God, to the point where your prayers will not be effective. Repent and seek forgiveness for ways you've sinned sexually. Resist sexual temptation by refusing to look at things that bring impurity into your mind (pornography, explicit movies and television shows, etc.). Be honest with God, yourself, and your spouse, about your struggles to stay sexually pure. Ask your spouse and a trusted friend to help hold you accountable. Rely on God's strength day by day to resist sexual temptation and live a pure and healthy life.
** The prison test. When you do the right thing, yet end up in the midst of a long and difficult trial, you may feel like you're in prison. Understand that, in our fallen world, the storms of life hit both the righteous and the unrighteous. Don't ask how to avoid suffering. Instead, ask whether you will allow it to do the work God intends it to accomplish in your life. Don't allow the injustice of your situation to stop God's work in your life. Allow God to use you now, whatever your circumstances may be, and trust in Him for the final outcome.
Know that God will never forget you. Allow your suffering to produce perseverance in you. Keep fighting the good fight of faith as you wait for God to deliver you. Know that, as you allow God to develop His character in your life, you'll start to do the right thing. You'll also begin to see things from His perspective, which will cause you to have hope. And that hope will motivate you to embrace opportunities to minister to others, carrying you to a divine appointment with your destiny.
** The prophetic test. Realize that God has a great plan for everyone He has created. Know that God has already spoken a specific, prophetic word over your life, releasing the power to carry you toward your destiny. Get to know and love God's Word to everyone - the Bible - by reading and studying it often. Let it test your character and build your faith. When you're trying to discern whether or not a specific prophecy you hear is truly from God, remember that God never says anything contrary to what He has said in the Bible. Keep in mind that God still speaks today through His Holy Spirit.
But remember that any prophecy you may receive is just a part of what God is saying. God gives prophetic words to encourage us and cause us to seek him. But we should put prophetic words together with Scripture to come up with a more complete picture of what God is saying. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you discern which part of a prophecy is purely from God, and which part is coming from your own personality or issues. Judge prophecy by the Bible, the Spirit's inward witness in your heart, and your knowledge of God's love and mercy. When God says something prophetic to you, hold on to it! Never stop believing in the words God has spoken. As you wait for your destiny to be fulfilled, remember that the only one you need to please is God. Remember that, as long as you serve Him, no one else can stop what He has planned for you.
** The power test. Understand that power isn't a bad thing in itself. God created us to have power and intends us to use it the way He does - to do good, help people, and make life on Earth better. Try to be a good steward of the authority and responsibility God has given you. Remember that it's what you do with God-given power and blessings that is the true test of your character. If you want God to give you power, first humble yourself before Him. Determine that you will use your God-given power to serve people however you can. Know that doing so moves you closer to your destiny.
** The prosperity test. Rely on the fact that God will give you everything you need to carry out His plans for your life. But He wants you to handle your money wisely instead of squandering it through foolish spending. Know that God will test you in how well you handle your finances. Control your money; don't let is control you. Make sure that God - not money - has first place in your heart. Give to God's work on Earth from the first part of each paycheck.
Honor God with your money as a way of thanking Him for giving you everything. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes. Wait until you can afford to pay cash for purchases rather than buying them on credit and accruing debt. Live below your means so you can save, give, and invest regularly without the burden of debt. Make a detailed budget and stick to it. Ask God to help you be content, no matter what the current state of your finances. Enjoy the financial freedom that enables you to spend your time in the ways God leads you, which will move you closer to your God-given destiny.
** The pardon test. If other people have hurt you, rely on God's help to forgive them and move on. Realize that refusing to forgive will damage your relationship with God, poison your heart with bitterness, and block you from moving forward into your destiny. With God's help, release people from all the charges against them. Don't pursue punishment or revenge. Remember that this is how God forgives you - completely. If you haven't fully received God's forgiveness for your own mistakes, embrace it. Believe that, because of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, God totally releases you from the penalty of your sin when you confess and repent.
** The purpose test. Believe that you have a God-given purpose in life. Ask Him to show you your talents and spiritual gifts. Think and pray about what you're good at doing, and what you most enjoy doing - those things are probably related to your talents and gifts. Begin to do those things more and more, and God will reveal more of your purpose to you. Rest in the knowledge that because God is good, He is working for good in every situation in your life. Trust Him as He works in your life. Keep on moving in the direction in which your talents and gifts lead, even though you can't see the specifics of your future. Know that your faithfulness will move you closer to the destiny God has planned for you. Stay faithful, and you will ultimately fulfill your destiny.
By Whitney Hopler, Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
What do you dream about? How would you like God to bless your life? Whatever your dreams are, you can be sure that God is rooting for you. He has placed desires within you, and His dreams for your life are even bigger than any you can dream yourself.
But what can you do when your dreams aren't yet fulfilled? How can you arrive at the destiny God has prepared for you?
Here are 10 tests we all must go through to see our dreams come true. Once you pass them, you can follow God into your destiny!
** The pride test. Ask God to reveal pride that's holding you back. Understand that your true identity is in Christ - not in what you accomplish. Recognize that your worth comes from the fact that you're one of God's beloved children and remember that without Him, you can't do anything. Ask God to give you the confidence you need to be secure in who you are, no matter what your current circumstances. Don't brag about your dreams; when you discuss them with others, keep the focus on God rather than yourself.
Spend time with God in prayer every day and let your time in His presence humble you and remind you of His unconditional love for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you discern which of your dreams are from God and which are not. Let go of dreams that are not from God so you can free up time and energy to pursue the ones that are from Him. Then, rather than focusing mainly on a specific dream, pursue the One who has given you that dream - God Himself.
** The pit test. Know that all of us sometimes go through situations that feel like "the pits" - times of suffering that surprise us. Recognize that "pits" are a natural part of life in our fallen world. If you've played some part in causing yourself to fall into a pit, acknowledge your own responsibility. If other people's actions have put you in a pit, don't waste time blaming them. However you came to be in a pit, know that you can trust God to get you out if you call upon Him for help. Rather than focusing on your circumstances, focus on God's faithfulness. Remember that nothing is too hard for God. Know that, no matter how big your pit is, God is big enough to get you out of it. Don't complain; instead, humbly call out to God for help.
** The palace test. Realize that God is watching to see whether or not you can be trusted with little things before He decides to give you bigger things. Show God that you're a faithful steward of all the resources He has entrusted to you. Be honest, even when no other person is looking. Work hard at all you do, even when it seems like no reward awaits you for doing so. Know that God really does want you to prosper in all aspects of your life - your family, your job, your health, etc. Understand that the key to experiencing success is God's presence in your life, the key to His presence is your obedience to Him, the key to obedience is faith to believe what God has said, and the key to faith is hearing the Word of God. So get to know the Bible and watch your faith increase. Then, as faith comes, obedience will follow. When you obey God, God will honor you with His presence. Then He will pour out His blessings into your life.
** The purity test. Understand that sexual morality has everything to do with character. Know that sexual impurity will affect everything else in your life, because it opens the door to a host of other sins. Don't compromise in this area of your life if you want God to bless you. Realize that sexual sin will powerfully damage your relationship with God, to the point where your prayers will not be effective. Repent and seek forgiveness for ways you've sinned sexually. Resist sexual temptation by refusing to look at things that bring impurity into your mind (pornography, explicit movies and television shows, etc.). Be honest with God, yourself, and your spouse, about your struggles to stay sexually pure. Ask your spouse and a trusted friend to help hold you accountable. Rely on God's strength day by day to resist sexual temptation and live a pure and healthy life.
** The prison test. When you do the right thing, yet end up in the midst of a long and difficult trial, you may feel like you're in prison. Understand that, in our fallen world, the storms of life hit both the righteous and the unrighteous. Don't ask how to avoid suffering. Instead, ask whether you will allow it to do the work God intends it to accomplish in your life. Don't allow the injustice of your situation to stop God's work in your life. Allow God to use you now, whatever your circumstances may be, and trust in Him for the final outcome.
Know that God will never forget you. Allow your suffering to produce perseverance in you. Keep fighting the good fight of faith as you wait for God to deliver you. Know that, as you allow God to develop His character in your life, you'll start to do the right thing. You'll also begin to see things from His perspective, which will cause you to have hope. And that hope will motivate you to embrace opportunities to minister to others, carrying you to a divine appointment with your destiny.
** The prophetic test. Realize that God has a great plan for everyone He has created. Know that God has already spoken a specific, prophetic word over your life, releasing the power to carry you toward your destiny. Get to know and love God's Word to everyone - the Bible - by reading and studying it often. Let it test your character and build your faith. When you're trying to discern whether or not a specific prophecy you hear is truly from God, remember that God never says anything contrary to what He has said in the Bible. Keep in mind that God still speaks today through His Holy Spirit.
But remember that any prophecy you may receive is just a part of what God is saying. God gives prophetic words to encourage us and cause us to seek him. But we should put prophetic words together with Scripture to come up with a more complete picture of what God is saying. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you discern which part of a prophecy is purely from God, and which part is coming from your own personality or issues. Judge prophecy by the Bible, the Spirit's inward witness in your heart, and your knowledge of God's love and mercy. When God says something prophetic to you, hold on to it! Never stop believing in the words God has spoken. As you wait for your destiny to be fulfilled, remember that the only one you need to please is God. Remember that, as long as you serve Him, no one else can stop what He has planned for you.
** The power test. Understand that power isn't a bad thing in itself. God created us to have power and intends us to use it the way He does - to do good, help people, and make life on Earth better. Try to be a good steward of the authority and responsibility God has given you. Remember that it's what you do with God-given power and blessings that is the true test of your character. If you want God to give you power, first humble yourself before Him. Determine that you will use your God-given power to serve people however you can. Know that doing so moves you closer to your destiny.
** The prosperity test. Rely on the fact that God will give you everything you need to carry out His plans for your life. But He wants you to handle your money wisely instead of squandering it through foolish spending. Know that God will test you in how well you handle your finances. Control your money; don't let is control you. Make sure that God - not money - has first place in your heart. Give to God's work on Earth from the first part of each paycheck.
Honor God with your money as a way of thanking Him for giving you everything. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes. Wait until you can afford to pay cash for purchases rather than buying them on credit and accruing debt. Live below your means so you can save, give, and invest regularly without the burden of debt. Make a detailed budget and stick to it. Ask God to help you be content, no matter what the current state of your finances. Enjoy the financial freedom that enables you to spend your time in the ways God leads you, which will move you closer to your God-given destiny.
** The pardon test. If other people have hurt you, rely on God's help to forgive them and move on. Realize that refusing to forgive will damage your relationship with God, poison your heart with bitterness, and block you from moving forward into your destiny. With God's help, release people from all the charges against them. Don't pursue punishment or revenge. Remember that this is how God forgives you - completely. If you haven't fully received God's forgiveness for your own mistakes, embrace it. Believe that, because of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, God totally releases you from the penalty of your sin when you confess and repent.
** The purpose test. Believe that you have a God-given purpose in life. Ask Him to show you your talents and spiritual gifts. Think and pray about what you're good at doing, and what you most enjoy doing - those things are probably related to your talents and gifts. Begin to do those things more and more, and God will reveal more of your purpose to you. Rest in the knowledge that because God is good, He is working for good in every situation in your life. Trust Him as He works in your life. Keep on moving in the direction in which your talents and gifts lead, even though you can't see the specifics of your future. Know that your faithfulness will move you closer to the destiny God has planned for you. Stay faithful, and you will ultimately fulfill your destiny.
