How Do I Get There?
Ok… now that you have your Big Dream written out, your roles/relationships defined and your tribute statements for each role clearly stated you are ready to chart your course. You need to choose some directions (very similar to goals but with the focus and power of your dream & roles behind them) that will give 2010 something to aim at. These directions will help you make decisions about what to do and what not to do in any given moment/day/week/month/year. Remember the verse from one of our earlier lessons:
An intelligent person aims at wise actions, but a fool starts off in many directions. Proverbs 17:24 (GN)
Don’t be foolish- using your dream & roles as a guide CHOOSE some directions to take your life in 2010. What will help you make your dream a reality? What will lead you closer to making the tribute statements you dream of come true? When you use your dreams and roles as targets that you aim at while choosing your directions you can really add some focus to your life… which will bring the power & intensity that will make your life the kind of life you’ve dreamed of.
When I was 31 I was drifting. I had gone to college and gotten my degree in Biblical studies but I had run from the idea of working for a church. I wanted to trust God but I had seen what trusting his people could lead to. I didn’t want any part of it. So I was delivering pizzas and looking for a way to make my life a success. It wasn’t working out very well. I tried to become a cop… it didn’t work out. I tried to become a firefighter… it didn’t work out. I tried to go to medical school… it didn’t work out. I tried to become an emergency medical technician (everyone together now)… it didn’t work out. My problem wasn’t that there was anything wrong with doing any of the things I was trying to do (there are plenty of cops, firefighters, doctors & emts who are exactly where God wants them to be)… it was that I really wasn’t trusting God and designing my life around & upon His kingdom. Nothing was working out for me (I had an awesome wife and a 1 ½ year old son but I was still dissatisfied with my life).
So I decided to start building my life on God’s kingdom. We talked yesterday about building our lives on what matters most. Jesus talked about this when He said:
So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
I was letting something other than His kingdom dominate my thoughts. I was seeking my own little kingdom first and then hoping He would add His kingdom to my life as well. The problem was that my thinking was completely backwards (which if you know me isn’t all that unusual ;0).
So I made a tough decision. I decided to base my life on God’s kingdom FIRST and then let Him add everything else like He promised in the scripture above. It was scary and there was more than a little grieving over letting go of the “successful” life I dreamed of (I wanted to have LOTS of money and stuff). The grieving seems silly now because it’s not like I was really in any danger of ever making LOTS of money anyways (but some of my toughest battles are with my unique brand of fantasy).
I started volunteering at church (the same one I work at now), I tried to add God into my everyday life the best I knew how, and I did my best to listen for His guidance and direction. God didn’t change everything about my life right away though. It took time for me to get myself to the place I was in… it took time for Him to get me closer to where He wanted me to be. I wish I could tell you I’m perfect at this “following God thing” now, but I’m a long ways away from that. W
What Are You Aiming At?
hat I find absolutely amazing is how God can do miracles even with my meager efforts. But He can. He did miracles with my meager efforts, and if you let Him, he’ll do miracles with your meager efforts.
Are you aiming at anything?
So take another look at your dreams, your roles and your tribute statements. Choose some directions to start heading (read that as “aiming at”) in your life. In fact, every time you sit down and plan out your week look over your dreams, roles & tribute statements. It will give you the direction you need to add the focus to your life that will allow you begin building your life on God’s kingdom, rather than your own.
ps: maybe you’re afraid that if you build your life on God’s kingdom then you will end up in some foreign country working with people you don’t understand and that your life will become a living hell. It’s ok if that’s what you’re afraid of… so was I. If that’s your fear let me reassure you. Most of us will spend the rest of our lives right where we are when we begin building our lives on the foundation of God’s kingdom. And if He does move you, or change your career… I guarantee you won’t regret it. I would never have dreamed that this is where God would eventually lead me… and if you had told me that this is where I’d be in 13 years I’m not sure I would have taken the first step 13 years ago (that’s why God doesn’t tell us where we’ll end up). But I can tell you this… God knows SO much better than I do (the understatement of the century). I wouldn’t trade where I am now for anything. God can be trusted.
Fascinating Comments!