Lately I have been spending a lot of time praying about my dreams and aspirations. We all have them, but I don’t think we spend enough time actually going after them or praying over them. I believe that a successful life is one lived in pursuit of our biggest dreams and aspirations, even if we never see them come to pass, because usually along the way we may discover another dream, our true dream, and we will see that one come true.
My dreams are numerous, but one of my biggest aspirations is to one day be an author. I have been writing since I knew how to type and I have always wanted to publish a book. Just recently, mostly through blogging and journaling, that dream has begun to take real root in my heart as an actual possibility. I write as often as I can, both fiction and non-fiction, and every time I do, I begin to play out the fantasy in my head. Seeing my book on the bookshelf, picking it up for the first time and flipping through the pages, hearing stories about people whose lives have been touched by this book I have written.
As I began to entertain these thoughts, even though they are a long way from becoming reality, I felt a tug in my Spirit to begin praying for all the people who would one day read my books. Now it might seem a little silly, why would I begin praying for someone reading a book that doesn’t even exists yet? But isn’t that what faith is? “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1).
I believe that God has called me to write, he has put the desire in my heart to touch peoples lives through words. And when God calls us into something, if we are to go down that path, we must have faith that he will accomplish what He has promised, what He has called us to. Praying for the readers of a book you haven’t written requires faith. Praying for your future children before your wife is pregnant requires faith. Praying for the ministries of the church you haven’t planted yet requires faith. And these advanced prayers won’t just grow your faith, praying for things in advance is a great way to inspire yourself towards the dream God has called you too. We begin to work with renewed tenacity because the prospect of our prayer being answered excites us once again that God will indeed fulfill His promise.
But that is the key, we must continue to sort through the dream or the desire to make sure that it is Spirit led and Spirit filled. We cannot be praying in advance for just anything we selfishly desire, but we must base our prayers on what we have heard from God and what He promises us in His word.
Praying for things in advance is a wonderful test of faith. But it also helps me spell out my dreams more specifically, and to continue working towards them even when I may not feel like getting up early in the morning to write.
Pray like it depends on God, work like it depends on you.
-jon
My dreams are numerous, but one of my biggest aspirations is to one day be an author. I have been writing since I knew how to type and I have always wanted to publish a book. Just recently, mostly through blogging and journaling, that dream has begun to take real root in my heart as an actual possibility. I write as often as I can, both fiction and non-fiction, and every time I do, I begin to play out the fantasy in my head. Seeing my book on the bookshelf, picking it up for the first time and flipping through the pages, hearing stories about people whose lives have been touched by this book I have written.
As I began to entertain these thoughts, even though they are a long way from becoming reality, I felt a tug in my Spirit to begin praying for all the people who would one day read my books. Now it might seem a little silly, why would I begin praying for someone reading a book that doesn’t even exists yet? But isn’t that what faith is? “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1).
I believe that God has called me to write, he has put the desire in my heart to touch peoples lives through words. And when God calls us into something, if we are to go down that path, we must have faith that he will accomplish what He has promised, what He has called us to. Praying for the readers of a book you haven’t written requires faith. Praying for your future children before your wife is pregnant requires faith. Praying for the ministries of the church you haven’t planted yet requires faith. And these advanced prayers won’t just grow your faith, praying for things in advance is a great way to inspire yourself towards the dream God has called you too. We begin to work with renewed tenacity because the prospect of our prayer being answered excites us once again that God will indeed fulfill His promise.
But that is the key, we must continue to sort through the dream or the desire to make sure that it is Spirit led and Spirit filled. We cannot be praying in advance for just anything we selfishly desire, but we must base our prayers on what we have heard from God and what He promises us in His word.
Praying for things in advance is a wonderful test of faith. But it also helps me spell out my dreams more specifically, and to continue working towards them even when I may not feel like getting up early in the morning to write.
Pray like it depends on God, work like it depends on you.
-jon
