Following Your Dreams

Rhema TeamAugust 2020 WOFLeave a Comment

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Dreams are powerful forces—especially the ones you hold in your heart. Are your dreams burning bright? Or have they been extinguished because of disappointments you have experienced along the way? It’s time to ignite your God-given dreams.

Jeremiah 29:11 (AMPC) says, “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” God wants to translate His thoughts into your dreams. His plans are wrapped up in the desires He has placed within you.

My First Dream

We all imagine future accomplishments. Many times it starts as a child. When I was only six years old, a dream to be married burned in my heart. And not only that, I knew I had to marry a minister. It was a driving force that I desired.

My dream was important to me because I knew my future was connected to it. I was consumed with it. So much so that when I dated, I never allowed myself to become emotionally attached to anyone who wasn’t preparing for ministry. Why? I knew my destiny was involved.

It is not about the size of your ability—it’s about the size of your God.
Lynette Hagin

The Dream I Didn’t Want

Then God placed another dream in my heart, but I wasn’t so sure I wanted it! He spoke to me about my future: “Part of your ministry will be ministering to women. I will gather a group of women around you, and together you will accomplish great things.”

I never liked women’s conferences. The ones I attended seemed like pity parties, and I like victory parties. “I don’t want that dream,” I told the Lord.

“That’s why I placed this dream in your heart,” He replied. “I want to see some victory parties. There are mighty things I need women to accomplish for Me, and they cannot do it feeling sorry for themselves. I want you to pick them up and put them on the road of victory instead of despair!”

After several years, I surrendered to God’s call to minister to women. As soon as I did, He said, “I’m thankful you obeyed, but now is not the time.”

“But what if I get out of the mood by the time You want me to do it?” I asked.

“You must wait,” He responded.

With dreams, there is a waiting time, a right time, and a wrong time. God may have given you dreams, but if you try to accomplish them in the wrong season, they won’t be successful. The Lord led me down many paths before He said, “Now is the time!”

Today, that dream is still happening. Every year at Kindle the Flame Women’s Conference, I get tears in my eyes when I see the women God brought together. It’s just as He told me: “I will gather around you an army of women who shall be women of balance. They will know how to balance womanhood, motherhood, and the assignment I have called them to do.”

What’s Your Dream?

Think back to when God spoke to you. It may be years ago and hard to remember! Because of difficult circumstances, your dream may have dimmed, but God wants to kindle it again.

Paul wrote in Second Timothy 1:6 (AMPC), “That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].”

The word kindle means “to stir up, excite, or ignite.” Stir up that dream again. Once it is kindled, here are some pointers to keep it burning bright.

  1. Be careful with whom you share your dream. God doesn’t always tell you the details of how it will come to pass. So don’t share it until it’s time. God told me, “Let Me unfold the plan before you reveal the plan.” His timing is not our timing.
  2. Hold fast in the silent years. What do you do when it seems like God is nowhere near? It’s okay to express how you feel to your Heavenly Father. In Psalm 13, David poured out his heart and received his breakthrough by praise. As you hold fast and praise God (rather than questioning Him), He will minister to you as you worship Him.
  3. Don’t become jealous when the dreams of others happen first. It’s easy to focus on what God seems to do for others and not for you. You may ask why, but that’s exactly where the enemy wants you. Don’t lose focus on your dream. It will happen if you don’t give up.
  4. Offenses will hinder you. One of the deadliest traps the devil sets is to get you offended. Don’t let offenses in; forgive instead. Remember that the great faith verses in Mark 11:23–24 are followed by verse 25: “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
  5. Go down the road God is leading you on. Taking detours only delay your dreams. Pay close attention to your Heavenly Father’s directions. Don’t rush through life by taking shortcuts. God has a chosen path for you to follow. And don’t complain about the ride, but enjoy the scenery.
  6. Dreams are hampered by majoring on mistakes. Forget your failures. You cannot redo history. And you cannot move ahead when you are dragging the past with you! God wants you to look forward. He erased your past. Forgive yourself and press ahead.
  7. Don’t allow your limitations to keep you from fulfilling your dreams. God inspires ordinary people with extraordinary dreams. It is not about the size of your ability—it’s about the size of your God!

And finally, don’t hide from God’s mission for you—even if it has been clouded by adversity. It’s time to revive those desires within, and follow your dreams!


[Editor’s Note: This article was adapted from Lynette Hagin’s Kindle the Flame 2004 message.]

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Lynette Hagin

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