Matthew 17:20 (NKJV)
“So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Growing up was there one thing that you wanted to be? It could have been some of the more popular ones like a doctor, fire fighter, music artist, pro athlete, or a monster truck driver? Maybe you wanted to help people, save animals, or make lots of money? So, how did you make out with those plans all those years ago?
It is sad to say that too many children and adults no longer have dreams or aspirations of what they want to do. Life and societal pressures seem to have us settling during major choices or even on a certain career path. Then when we get to a crossroads in our life we have to stop and ask how we got there. If you have asked this question more than once, then it may be time to rethink your approach.
We have seen that any new choice or direction begins with actually deciding that you want to change. A commitment to this new course that will not be swayed or be quit if the road gets rough. We do this by staying focused on moving forward with the improvement plan and digging in should something want to push us backwards. Then with each positive step our confidence grows and renews our energy to keep going.
With each little victory many of our fears and anxieties will fall away giving some of us more clarity than we have had in years. As we keep going with the plan we also start seeing all the other possibilities begin to swirl around us. When we get such an influx of self-confidence, our smile gets a little broader, we walk with our heads held higher, and there is a pep in our step that we haven’t had in a while.
Now hike to the top of that mountain and look out at the valley below (you don’t really have to climb a mountain unless you want to). Now, what do you see? Other new choices or possibilities? How about just letting your mind loose and dare to dream those dreams of your childhood.
Don’t laugh or roll your eyes, just stay with me. There is nothing to stop you from resurrecting those dreams except for you. Some may still be feasible while others may need to be tweaked.
I always wanted to finish my college degree, but I never pursued it for many different excuses. I finally went back and now I have five classes left to graduate. In high school I thought about writing, and poetry only briefly crossed my mind. Now I write Christian poems and commentaries and I even finished a fiction book.
The point is it is never too late unless you choose to believe it. If you are making progress on a recent change you should not start putting restrictions on yourself. Don’t let those old fears and excuses creep back in to sabotage what you have accomplished. Keep the momentum going and dream.
I have faced this too many times to count over the years, but it was not till I rededicated my life to Christ that I was able to find more clarity and focus to finally overcome the fears and doubts that were holding me back. The biggest change was that I was able to find peace with Him that dissipated the fog surrounding me preventing me from even seeing the possibilities.
My renewed faith brought such uplift that it reminded me of a popular scripture, Isaiah 40:31. “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” If you have experienced this, then you know the tremendous energy that you get in everything you do.
There is something about feeling like you are walking on air or floating on a cloud because it’s like there is nothing that you can’t accomplish. The biggest issue becomes maintaining that feeling, not letting the forces of life bring you back down or at least glide in for a nice landing. Don’t be Peter who got out of the boat to walk to Christ, only to lose faith and begin sinking.
But even if I fall faster than I wish I always seek solace in the Lord. The peace I have been able to find in all situations helps me to reduce or eliminate the anxiety in most situations. All you have to do is maintain your faith and believe in your heart that God is there. We find this spelled out for us in 2 Thessalonians 3:16, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.”
Now it may not be a matter of overcoming an unexpected obstacle or delay, but rather that you are beginning to lose steam. Many times we can just pause to take a deep breath before we continue on. At others we may need a little extra to see us through which can also come from the Lord.
This encouragement can be found in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Just ask, God will give you a renewed spirit so you can stand back up and continue to push the limits. As I looked out across the horizon at the glimmering hilltops of possibilities, I have tapped into His energy more than once to make it to the next one.
So join me to not only dare to dream the impossible dream, but find peace and strength with the Lord. He will help you soar to new heights and accomplish what ever you set your mind to. Now please enjoy part four of the “Closer To” poem, “Reaching for the Stars.”
REACH FOR THE STARS
Yes Lord,
The road ahead is clearing and I can see no bumps ahead,
There are so many possibilities l can focus on instead.
With this renewed spirit I feel I can soar above the clouds,
The world is there before me not hidden by any shrouds.
I can now see a bright future before me filled with dreams I can’t suppress,
There are so many things that I can do with the confidence I now possess.
My Child,
When you have faith and believe that you will have what you need,
You will find there is a way in my plan for you to always succeed.
As you look to the horizon and see the things that you can do,
You will soon realize that there are no limits being placed on you.
Use the gifts you have to fuel the passion you have locked up deep inside,
As you Reach For The Stars I will give you the strength and be your guide.
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