Encouragement
Dare: To Dream
By: Patricia Charlton
Another year has come and gone - just like you, I reflect on last year’s trials and triumphs and plan for future adventures. Will this new year bring more victories than failures? Perhaps! The outcome may depend upon my New Year’s resolution. The dictionary defines a resolution as “the act of resolving or determining, as upon an action or course of action, method, procedure.” With determination and a possible game plan, I will dare to dream.
How do I make a plan that will make my dream successful? I found this formula for my success from this: “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.” (Psalm 37: 4 NLT). My first action is to determine “What is my dream?” After determining my dream, I study my formula for success.
Step One is trust in the Lord. What does it mean to “trust”? When I sit in a chair, I have confidence that the chair will hold my weight. Trusting is having confidence or sure of something or someone. This confidence involves this: “Keep company with God, get in on the best.” (Psalm 37 The Message).
Step Two involves delighting in the Lord. The dictionary defines “delight” as “a great pleasure or enjoyment.” When my heart is tender towards Jesus and I obey His Spirit’s direction, then delighting is a pleasure. Confidence and trust comes easily to my tender heart when I “open up before God, keep nothing back; He’ll do whatever needs to be done.” (Psalm 37 The Message) Honesty and willingness to obey will bring about my success. Hearing the warning to guard my tender heart, I proceed to the next step.
Step Three is committing everything I do to the Lord. The dictionary meaning for “commit” is “to give in trust or charge.” With my next writing assignment or query letter, I will put that action in the “trust fund of heaven”. When the discouragement and writer’s block come, I will roll all my fears and shortcomings onto the Lord. With each new desire, I will put that project in God’s hands and continue on with the plan.
With my three-step plan for success, I will dare to dream. Dreams involving courage and a tender heart. Dreams that will impact a world with the power of Christ to change people’s hearts and mend lives. Dreams that will open new doors of opportunity for a ministry in writing. What is your dream? Do you have the courage and the plan for your resolution?
Unlike the world, my New Year’s resolution is not about changing old habits but acquiring the faith and courage to dream.
Copyright © 2005 Patricia Charlton
Used by permission
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