Is a Dream your Idol?

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In my dream world I live in an enormous rustic home nestled into cozy mountainside overlooking a pristine lake.  I never have to worry about a mortgage or broken down cars (or broken down bodies!)
And because I don't like to do things half way, I also weigh 70 pounds less, have a successful writing career and perfect blood pressure.

We all need dreams.  Dreams propel us forward, energize us to work hard towards a goal and can make the world a better place.  I believe many of our dreams are God given and God directed.  However, if you're like me, many of your dreams are self-centered, idealistic and materialistic.  We see something we like on Facebook or Instagram or TV (often an entire lifestyle- I'm looking at you, Joanna Gaines) and we want the same thing for our lives.

What happens, then, when real life doesn't live up to your dream for your life?  When illness, death, broken relationships, lost jobs, business failures intrude on your plans?  Do you cling on to them tighter?  Work harder?  Give up altogether?  Become bitter towards and envious of others who are living your dream?

I have to admit, giving up some of my dreams has been one of my biggest challenges as a Christian.  When I was young, I didn't have huge pie- in-the-sky dreams.  I believe I had a simple dream for my life.  I wanted a great marriage, healthy, happy kids, a long life, a beautiful home and at least a small measure of financial security.  I didn't covet fame, fortune or an international modeling career.  My dreams seemed completely within my reach.

However, life had other plans.  A great marriage?  Mine had been riddled with the effects of alcoholism.  Happy kids?  Mine lost their daddy when they were all under 5 years old.  Financial security?  My husband's recent stroke and uncertain work future have put our retirement goals in serious peril.

On my worst days, it's easy to have a pity party.  Looking at my peers perfect vacations with their healthy husbands can leave me with a puddle of tears in an empty ice cream carton.  I plead my case before God and when I don't get the answers I desire, I throw a spirit tantrum (just like a toddler tantrum but with less screaming and kicking).

In the midst of one of these spirit tantrums the other day, God impressed this verse on my mind.

Psalm 37:4 New King James Version (NKJV)

4 Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

After meditating on this verse for awhile my spirit calmed down and I was reminded to look at my life through the lens of eternity and not the temporal.  I practiced an hour of gratitude and worship.  I was once again filled with Joy, Peace, Love and Hope- the TRUE DESIRES of my HEART!  I remembered  a lesson I had learned decades ago:  the desires of my mind (typically temporal, selfish and materialistic) are usually contradictory to the desires of my heart (love, peace, joy, hope, patience, kindness, righteousness)

So, once again, as I have many times throughout my life, I lay my dreams down before the throne of my Savior and ask Him to give me His dream for my life and only His dream.  From past experience I know this dream will look very different from my worldly dream but will be infinitely more fulfilling and will truly satisfy the desires of my heart.


When you lay your own dreams down, God will give you His Dream for your life and fulfill the desires of your heart.

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