GODLY DREAMS by Gary Wilkerson
Genesis 37:5 (ESV) tells us, “Joseph had a dream.” God spoke directly to Joseph in his dreams and he did not shrink back; he allowed the dreams to spark a godly ambition in his heart. The word dream appears 113 times throughout the Bible—and over 30 of those passages involve Joseph.
Genesis 37:5 continues, “When he told [the dream] to his brothers they hated him even more.” Many of us are ashamed of the dreams God has put in our heart, and part of that shame comes from our fear of others’ opinions. But until we speak our godly ambition, it will never be realized. Giving voice to our dream is itself a step of faith.
For years my dream was to lead a vibrant body like The Springs Church but when I voiced that dream I could see the doubt in people’s eyes. It would have been easy for me to wallow in their doubt; after all, I had pastored only small churches before. But thank God, His Spirit encouraged me to keep saying “yes” to the dream He put in me—and to trust Him to bring it to pass.
There is nothing like giving in to licentiousness to destroy a God-given dream. Joseph could have given in to sin when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. But when you are living for God, you will do anything to avoid grieving Him. Joseph’s integrity enraged Potiphar’s wife but he was speaking for righteousness when he turned her down. “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).
It is time for you to pick up the dream God gave you long ago. You may be stuck in a pit but what you see as a long trial may be God’s holding ground for your honorable service to Him. Do you fear to dream? Ask God to replace your fear with faith. Do you come from a dysfunctional background? Trust Him to lead you in spite of lingering scars. Are you afraid you have sinned for too long? Remember His promise to go after every sheep that has wandered.
God welcomes every sinner into the life of faith and He will deliver every trusting servant out of every pit they fall into. Let nothing hinder the great high calling the Lord is summoning you to. He desires to set you on an accelerated path that brings glory to His name.
Genesis 37:5 continues, “When he told [the dream] to his brothers they hated him even more.” Many of us are ashamed of the dreams God has put in our heart, and part of that shame comes from our fear of others’ opinions. But until we speak our godly ambition, it will never be realized. Giving voice to our dream is itself a step of faith.
For years my dream was to lead a vibrant body like The Springs Church but when I voiced that dream I could see the doubt in people’s eyes. It would have been easy for me to wallow in their doubt; after all, I had pastored only small churches before. But thank God, His Spirit encouraged me to keep saying “yes” to the dream He put in me—and to trust Him to bring it to pass.
There is nothing like giving in to licentiousness to destroy a God-given dream. Joseph could have given in to sin when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. But when you are living for God, you will do anything to avoid grieving Him. Joseph’s integrity enraged Potiphar’s wife but he was speaking for righteousness when he turned her down. “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).
It is time for you to pick up the dream God gave you long ago. You may be stuck in a pit but what you see as a long trial may be God’s holding ground for your honorable service to Him. Do you fear to dream? Ask God to replace your fear with faith. Do you come from a dysfunctional background? Trust Him to lead you in spite of lingering scars. Are you afraid you have sinned for too long? Remember His promise to go after every sheep that has wandered.
God welcomes every sinner into the life of faith and He will deliver every trusting servant out of every pit they fall into. Let nothing hinder the great high calling the Lord is summoning you to. He desires to set you on an accelerated path that brings glory to His name.