Wednesday, June 21, 2006

DREAMING THE UNTHINKABLE

To him who by means of his power working in us is able to do much more than we can ever ask or even think. Eph 3:20

WHAT IS BEYOND THINKING?

This scripture tells us that God wants to do more - much more - for us than we can think or ask. What is beyond thinking? I recently heard Graham Cooke ask this question. I thought it was a good question. What is more than thinking? His answer was: "dreaming." God wants to do something for us and in us that is higher and more awesome than where our thinking can take us.

ARE WE WORLDLY OR OTHER-WORLDLY?

The image in this photo has an "other-worldly" appearance. Like it, we are to be extraordinary, rather than ordinary. We are to be something special in the earth. Something that reflects the glory of God. We cannot get to that place through our own devices, our own thinking. Dreams take us beyond our intellect and touch the hidden man of the heart (Prov 3:5). What if there is a part of God's glory waiting to be manifest in the earth that only comes through dreams? Sometimes he ignites dreams through images in the night and sometimes he puts secret longings and desires in our heart, and we call those longings dreams. Through dreams he works in us to will and to do what pleases him. (See Phil 2:13.)

DREAMERS AREN'T OFTEN UNDERSTOOD

Joseph in the Old Testament had a dream that brought much opposition and adversity in his life. Dreamers aren't often understood. That's why it's important to be sure your dream is from God before you commit to it. When I'm not sure my longings and dreams are from God, I ask him to give confirmation and I search his word to see if my dream is scriptural, while I continue to pray for clarity. I ask myself if the fulfillment of my dream will bring God glory. Often I discuss it with someone I trust, someone who knows the Word and the ways of God. Someone who won't kill my dream just because it is bigger than I am, just because it hasn't been done before.

HE WANTS TO TAKE US BEYOND OURSELVES

After due consideration, if we know that we know that God has put a dream in us, let us hold it fast and not let the naysayers steal it! Let us trust God to bring it forth. Eph 3:20 tells us that it is his power working in us that will cause the "so much more" to manifest. If we stay close to him, he will take us beyond ourselves. And that's not just a good thing, it's a God-thing!


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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Janell: What I have notice about what you write is that you are able to take a thought, break it down and communicate a more concise meaning, which makes one think deeper about what has been said. It seem that on this blog about dreaming, you were able to get what Graham was saying, analyze it and put it into a clearer explanation.

Anonymous said...

Jay: What I have notice about what you write is that you are able to take a thought, break it down and communicate a more concise meaning which makes one think deeper about what has been said. It seem that on this blog about dreaming you were able to get what Graham was saying, analyze it and put it into a clearer explanation.

Sarah