Dreaming with God

The heaviest things in life are not gold or granite, but broken promises.

We internalize within ourselves a wound with each unmet promise to friends, family, and most impactfully, our broken promises to ourselves.

If you want your dreams to be realized then you must first learn to be a promise keeper.

We are all designed with the ability to usher into reality things that have never existed before. We are creators, made in the image of the Original Creator. And the way we manifest the invisible is to begin to do it, speak it, and act upon it.

But the reason we are sometimes unfulfilled is because we have decisions that we are not making, imaginations we are not creating, and promises we are not keeping. This cycle of regret must be broken. The good news is that there is a simple way to break this toxic sequence and it is to say “yes!” to a season of sacrifice. I said it was simple, I did not say it is always easy. But valuable things seldom are.

Switch on the part of your brain that says, “I commit to the good fight, even when I don’t feel like it.”

Your feelings are a charlatan, parading as your genuine self. But you are not your feeling. Emotions only become ours when we come into agreement with them. You can choose to believe your feelings. But you can also choose to believe in your values, dreams, commitments, and promises.

Your life is built upon a million little decisions. Take for example a piece of paper. In and of itself its weight is as light as the air, but layer upon layer, sheet upon sheet, together they become something of substance to be reckoned with. Each small decision carries weight. Each on the heels of another, they compound into something of substance. One decision may not seem that significant, but one stacked on top of another is what tips the scale.

With each promise kept, you are accumulating trust with youself. You stop looking outside for validation and learn to listen for it within your own mind. You must become your best critic, your best coach, and your best cheerleader. 

On this journey of materialized promises, you must take the necessary step of shutting out external voices that do not align with your values. Stop looking to please other people and begin the fulfilling journey of being pleased in oneself. Do away with the need for external validation and replace it with internal self-validation. Stop taking inventory of what everyone else thinks and instead build your own thought palace. You get to decide how to adorn your own mind. 

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 

This is why it is so important to create habits of thought. Write them down, keep them in front of you, and you will become what you behold. Uphold your mind to a high standard of thinking, keep your promises to yourself, and you will be rewarded with trust. And what other human heart should you trust more to have good intentions for you?! 

But sadly, too often the biggest obstacle, betrayer, and critic we meet is ourselves. This is exactly why we must build a healthy foundation of trust by choosing our thoughts rather than letting them descend into chaos. What you water will grow, and what you pluck out will wither away.

The battlefield of your life lives in your mind. So guard your garden. 

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8

Give your energy and willpower to uplifting thoughts. Filter the seeds that ride on the whirlwind and only cultivate that which nurtures good fruit. 

Do you crave beauty and goodness in your life? Two verses above Philippians 4:8 explain that a vibrant garden begins in a heart of gratitude.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Fill every gap with thanksgiving, prayer, and petition. 

Interestingly, the word "petition" here is translated from the Greek word "δέησις" (deēsis). This word refers to a specific type of prayer which means expressing our needs from a mindset of trust. To me, trust signifies letting go, releasing the need to control everything, and realizing that the outcome and miracle comes from the Lord. Trust means to rest. Trust means that you know your place, and you know the Lord’s place. Your place is at Jesus’ side, resting your head peacefully against His chest just as His beloved disciple John did. Your inheritance is rest and assurance that you can trust Him. 

We are a mirror, reflecting the Original Deamer and a Promise Keeper. And the closer we get to His face, the more we reflect His image and beauty. We are transformed by that which we behold. To be a dreamer and a promise keeper is to walk in the footsteps of God. 

In the poetic truth written by the disciple John, this is your inheritance, “as He is so are we in this world.” 1 John 4:17