My Dear Daughter,
You are so precious.
Come to me. I love you. I have such purpose for you.
Let me blow fresh life on you today. Receive from me.
I see your heart, your deepest desires, even those you have forgotten.
I know. I care. I have not forgotten you.
I will bring to birth all I have conceived in you.
Delight in me, and I will give you the desires of your heart.
Do not be troubled. Do not let the world overwhelm you, for I have overcome the world, and I live in you.
Get excited. I have great plans for you.
I know you. I created you. All I lead you into is designed for you. It will bring you joy. It will bless others.
You are so special. I breathe life into your dreams, and hold your hand as you walk into them.
Your Father God
…with thoughts from Psalm 37
Reflection and Application
Remember the story of Joseph? He had a dream. A literal one. He dreamed of greatness, of his family and brothers bowing down to him.
Joseph’s dream seemed impossible. He was thrown into a well, then sold to traders by his brothers. He lay long dark years, forgotten in prison.
We don’t know if during this time Joseph held his dream close to his heart, or if he let it become buried in the dirt beneath his feet, but one thing we do know: God was faithful!
God raised Joseph up. He blessed Joseph with such favour and wisdom that the nations came to him, and God used him to save millions.
Talk about the impossible becoming reality!
So, daughter of God, what’s your dream?
It may, or may not, be of greatness. It’s probably not of others bowing down to you! But I know, at some point, it is something that has stirred your heart and breathed life into your being.
Your dream may be a secret one. (Joseph’s wasn’t and that got him into trouble!)
Your dream may be something you hold close to your heart.
It may be something that seems impossible.
It may just lie buried and forgotten in the overwhelm of daily life (beneath the pile of paperwork, the dishes, or the laundry).
Whatever your dream, and whatever state it’s in, God knows, and he is faithful!
Take time to dream afresh today.
Pray into your dreams. Ask God what is for now and what is for future. Let God breathe life into dreams that have lain dormant. He has beauty for you, purpose and fulfillment for each and every season of your life.
Ask God, practically, how you can begin to move towards your dream. Can you set aside one hour a week to do something to move closer – pray, plan, share with others, research, write, volunteer?
Small steps lead somewhere!
Most of all, take joy in him. He will lead you, guide you and direct you.
Let me share something of my own story:
Years ago I had a dream.
I dreamed of writing. I dreamed of helping and encouraging other women who were going through tough times like me. I even dreamed of writing a book.
I began to write, not great long blog posts (there weren’t even websites in those days), just scrappy notes, and short emails to friends. Sometimes I wrote when my children were sleeping. On rare occasions I had a morning out alone to write. Many times, the months went by, and I wrote nothing!
But my dream grew, as did my piles of notes!
Now, 15 years later, I have two blogs: this one and Mums Kids Jesus.
God has been so faithful. He has brought my dream to life.
Yes, it has involved hard work on my part, but it has been his hand, his grace, his enabling that has got me here. (A few years ago I wouldn’t have had a clue how to create a website, and everything that goes along with that!)
What excites me even more is the book dream! My first book Forever Loved: Eve’s Story (the story of Father and daughter, as told by Eve) has been published. Wow! I am beyond grateful to God for where he’s brought me.
I share this to encourage you.
Receive from God today. He has something special for you, in your now, and in your future.
Your dreams are HIS reality. He sees the end from the beginning. He knows you and he’s with you. And he is faithful.
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this…
Psalm 37:4-5
(This reflection is adapted from an original blog post at Mums Kids Jesus)
Steph says
Very encouraged today. Thank for sharing your story. Fellow dreamer and writer xx
Joanna Chee says
So glad it encouraged you Steph. Every blessing on your dreaming and writing 🙂