“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Surround yourself with the right people and you can fulfill the dreams God gives you. Put yourself in relationships with people who are not only like-minded, but are also seeking to honor God in their own lives. Here is a thought to consider today: if your friends don’t point you toward God’s goal for you, then they’re not very good friends. You want to be around dream-builders, not dream-crashers! When you prune the relationships around you, you’re not cutting things out of your life; you’re making room for growth so that you can reach your God-given potential! When you make room for God’s best, you can walk away from the lesser things that the world has to offer. ~Joel Osteen -Today’s Word With Joel and Victoria
We all have them, relationships that seem to point out all of our shortcomings, that remind us of all the times we have screwed up. This seems to always deflate any confidence I have built in myself in one swoop. Most would even say they are only trying to help you to not get hurt, yet they have no idea the pain they are causing by not believing in you. While there are many relationships you can not absolutely cut out of your life, such as family, you can begin to hold back the most sacred things. I have found myself pouring out my dreams and God given desires, only to have them crushed by someone, even a “friend”. But I am beginning to learn that some things are sacred and need to be protected in the safety of those I can trust to help nurture them. Some dreams are so big, they can not be understood by just anyone. So protect that dream as if it were your baby.
We also have to be careful not to be that person in someone else’s life. To not crush the spirit of something that seems impossible. We have to be careful, especially as parents and spouses, not to want to protect a loved one by crushing their dreams. Remember that Jesus said Mark 10:27 “..with men [it is] impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible..”
I agree. Believe it or not, it’s hard to do. When I need the guts to make a decision I call Jill because I know she’s going to hold me up to her standard of what she believes I’m worth when I can’t see the value in myself. When I want compassion and not to be spoken down to because of the decisions I’ve made in the past, I call Tracy. I’ve found that God places people in our lives who will fight for us, hold us up and see the best in us.
I call you when I want to be reminded that dreams do come true. 😉