Lifeway Church

I've been reading a book on prayer by best-selling author Mark Batterson called, "The Circle Maker" and it's been amazing. It has really caused me to evaluate my approach on prayer as it relates to me personally and as pastor of Lifeway.  A friend recommended the book and it took me just a couple of days to read it.  In fact, I'm on my second reading.  One of the focal points to this book addresses the topic of dreaming big.  My initial thought was, other than having to pray for strength to accomplish your dreams, I asked, "How can prayer change or affect my dreams?"  The answer I got was stunning if not life-changing and ministry-changing.  Let me share with you what I've learned and how I hope that this can be a blessing to you.

First, I discovered that the more I pray, the more I get connected with the Spirit of God.  That's obvious, right?  But something happens when I get connected with the Spirit of God, the creative aspect of God begins to deposit His "God-size" dreams in me.  Now I've always been someone who has had big dreams, but I think if I'm honest with myself, I can't say that I've allowed myself to have God-size dreams.  Why?  This answer is honest and sincere.  God-size dreams are scarey.  I mean real scarey.  They're too huge and seem so impossible to attain.  That's why they're called "God-size" dreams.

Second, I learned that because they are so huge and seem so impossible, I have no choice but to pray to God and depend on Him for those dreams to be fulfilled.  God-size dreams mean that I have to pray more and the more I pray, the bigger the dreams get.  It's an amazing endless cycle.  Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God can do more that we could ever imagine or dream!  Think about that for awhile and let it sink in.  God has dreams for you that you haven't even imagined yet.  When we do discover these dreams through the process of prayer, we are compelled to pray to God for the strength to see those dreams a reality.

Finally, I've learned that God-size dreams require that I take a risk or a step of faith.  Many times we don't want to risk anything because we're AFRAID of what it my do to our reputation.  "What are people gonna say?"  "What will people think of me if my dreams don't come true?"  "What if I fail, then what?"  Here's the thing, God-size dreams don't put your reputation at risk, they put God's reputation at risk because they're His dreams.  Even if your reputation was at risk with your critical co-workers or your negative family members, so what?  If you're not willing to take the risk, you'll never see the God-size dreams come to pass in your life and God will not be glorified.  Mark Batterson writes in his book, "You cannot build God's reputation if you aren't willing to risk yours."

So don't just dream.  Don't just dream big.  Dream God-size dreams and run to God in prayer when you get them.  You'll need to.  God bless.