Dreamers

My elementary report cards are hilarious. Almost all of them say the following: "Hollie is bright...but she has trouble focusing and is usually daydreaming or talking to her friends." I laugh out loud every time I read them (and am so thankful mom kept them all!). Yes. The teacher's comments were right on target-I was, and still am, a total dreamer.

Being a dreamer has served me well!  I have probably gained more from my daydreams than from years in the classroom. My best ideas come from my dreams. My creativity is sparked by my daydreams. Also, God speaks to me most clearly in my dreams. When He needs me to learn something that I haven't quite caught onto yet, he corrects me gently through stories in my sleep.

 I am amazed how God shares His creativity with us by releasing bits of it through our imaginations. His creativity, forming stories through our lives, increases our ability to thrive within the constraints of our everyday reality. Dreaming throws off restrictions, creating atmospheres which allow anything to happen. God is pleased when we use our imaginations for good. He approves us developing our imaginations through the purity of His word (whatever is pure...noble...think on these things).

Dreams are emotionally charged. They can instill hope, work around existing problems, and allow us to think BIG. Dreams are also a starting point. They catapult us towards change. Long before we are actually ready to accomplish the purpose for which God created us, He plants seeds of excitement by instilling passions and hopes through our dreams.

Dreaming does have a dangerous connotation because it forces us to choose and to act. We can either embrace the dream and move towards realizing it, or safely step back, fearfully avoiding any risks. Anyone who finds themselves at this juncture can remember it is God who invites us into the dream, asking only for our availability. He will bring the dream to fruition. His creativity encourages us to obey. Our obedience releases God's favor, and allows Him to further reveal His grand plot for realizing our dreams.

The world needs more godly dreamers who are willing to seek and risk and obey. I am so grateful for God's unique way of including us in the spiritual realm by instilling dreams within us. Take a moment this week and rediscover the dreamer within you.