In the past few months, several Christian books have fallen into my lap. Christian agents, editors, friends and pastors have echoed their theme: God wants us to dream big dreams and live a large life for Him.
Many of us are prevented from dreaming big dreams because of fear. We fear putting our dreams above other things in life. We fear that we are incapable. We fear we will fail. We fear other people will laugh at our dreams. Or will laugh if we fail.
God gave us our one and only lives on this side of eternity in order to love and obey Him. And to bring Him glory in everything we do. Because He deserves all the glory we can give Him and more.
Marianne Williamson, in her “Everyday Grace” says: “I was meant to shine, as children do. I was born to make manifest the glory of God that is within me.”
Are we afraid to live large for God? Do we feel safer living a small life? Do we think if we live small, we will remain unnoticed?
God notices.
Sometimes we worry about our calling. We think, as Christians, we need to listen for that one big thing Jesus is calling us to do for Him. But could the word “calling” refer to something else? Something—in addition to or instead of—the one big thing?
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:9 that God has called us to a fellowship with Jesus. God has “called us.” If He called us, isn’t that, too, a “calling”? We have been called to live for Him. Our calling may not necessarily be to “do one big thing” for Him. Perhaps our calling is to “live one big life” for Him.
Maybe it means both. But until such time as we hear God calling us to “one big thing” we’d sure better be living our “one big life” for Him.
We can dream big dreams. Not for pride or personal accomplishment. But because dreaming big, and working toward those big dreams, brings glory to Him. We can make manifest the glory of God within us.
For He is worthy.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you know we have dreams. Help us have dreams for you. Thank you for this one and only life you have given to us on this side of eternity. Thank you for calling us. Help us live large for you today. Amen.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you have dreams you are afraid to dream? What are they? What first step might you take today toward living large for God?
