One of the things I remember from my battle with depression was how impossible it seemed to accomplish my dreams. My mind was so racked with ideas and memories of failure after failure and broken promises and lost relationships, it just seemed that my dreams were not only dead and gone, but I wondered why I ever dreamed them in the first place. The good news is this: you are still alive and you CAN and MUST go after your dreams. You have dreams and goals because you once were strong and couldn't imagine not accomplishing them. God placed some of those dreams in your heart. The dreams that have shattered will not have mattered if you take another point of view. I want to help you, inspire you, to not just hope your goals and dreams come to fruition, but I want them to come to fruition. But I can't help you if you won't help yourself. All Godly dreams you have for your life will come to pass if you remain faithful to God by honoring the covenant. Your dreams may have just been put on hold for now.
Many people try to accomplish their dreams by "following their heart," as Disney movies tell us. The Bible tells us the heart is deceitfully wicked. No, I tell you, follow Jesus and His dreams, His plans, will come true for you.
“Dream Big
Pray Hard
Trust God”
Try this: Close your eyes and imagine accomplishing your greatest goals and, ultimately, your greatest dream. You and those who have supported you and are supporting you as you climb out of the hole that is depression. Just close your eyes and go there. This is your journey to find your own, personal "Holy Grail" so to speak.
Now, what did you see? Where were you? Who was with you? Did you sense anything? Did you smell anything? Were there people you do not know? Flesh this out and don't hold back. It is critical you take the time to honor your dreams and take out a new lease on your life. Write down what you've envisioned, draw pictures, pray* and fast (if you're able). It is up to you to take every opportunity God affords you to grow and produce His goodness in the Earth. He made you for a purpose and wants you to succeed. He loves you and has big plans for you ... but you have to want it, too. Your dreams will never come true if you don't do your part. Most people wait for their dreams to come true only to watch them go down the tubes. Don't let that be you. You have to get on the horse's back for the ride of your life. It's not going to happen from your couch.
You can have the life you have always dreamed. Satan and his demons have attacked you and now it's time for you to fight back. The reasons you previously fell short of accomplishing your goals and dreams might be many, but God wants you to get up, dust yourself off, and ...
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Prayer
My awesome El Shaddai, my lord and my God, I love the song that says, "Every hour I need you, my one Defense, my Righteousness, Oh God how I need You!" I acknowledge that truth right now. I need You and, more importantly, I want You in my life. Not simply for what I can get or for what You might give me, but just because I want You to take a greater role in my life. My Lord, I apologize for the mistakes and sins I have committed that have caused me to fall away from Your will for my life. I ask that You would forgive me and help me to live in such a way so as to be an example of Your loving grace everywhere I go. I ask that You would give me another chance to fulfill Your will for my life and see the dreams You have placed in my heart come to pass. Help me, Lord, to love as You love and live as You lived during Your life on Earth. I want others to see You when they see me. All honor, glory, power to You, my awesome and glorious Lord. In the name of Your Wonderous Son, Jesus Christ, amen.
* When you pray, make sure you are a Spirit-filled believer and you pray in the Spirit as Paul encourages us to in Ephesians 6:18.
Fasting is a powerful spiritual weapon in our arsenal. I have gotten much freedom from God's grace and the power of the Blood of Jesus and my partnership with Jesus in the humbling of myself through prayer and so will you!
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