Have You Allowed Your Dream To Die?

Every once in a while I listen to what the preacher says.

Oh, I always hear them, like a lot of folks. But I sometimes actually listen.

Today was one of those days.

He began with the scripture, “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint.” (Proverbs 29:18 ESV) Another translation says it this way: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

Even though the preacher soon moved on to another passage, I had already unpacked my mining gear. He had piqued my interest, and the Spirit of God let me know there was more for me to understand beneath the surface.

So it was time to dig, to excavate, and discern what I was supposed to find.

I eventually caught up to the preacher, but not until I had written myself a few notes; some thoughts I believe were from God. Allow me to open my valise and share with you my findings.

The phrase, “No prophetic vision”, can refer to a number of things: goals, dreams, and the like. The goals could be something for an individual or many. They could come as the result of planning and study, or prayer and fasting. How they come or appear doesn’t matter much; what does matter is their value. Are they worth the trouble and work necessary to see them become a reality?

If people devalue the goals and dreams, they will act as though they’ve never heard of them. They’ll reject them as unattainable, irrelevant, or not worth the effort. The result of such rejection is total chaos. No restraints. Wide open spaces where anything and everything can happen.

But not the original goal or dream.

Where are you these days? Do you have a life’s goal or dream? Are you guarding it as you work toward its fulfillment?

There have been times in my life I’ve looked at my dream of writing and ministering the gospel full time when I’ve thought, “Pie in the sky. Dreamland. I need to get back down to earth and take a bite of reality.”

I’ve almost given up on, what I believe, is a God-given dream. And to give it up means to throw off the disciplines and habits that have brought me at least as close as I am to the dream.

But I refuse to cast off restraint! I refuse to live without a dream!

And it’s how we must be with God’s word. His prophetic vision, His dream of what can happen if only… Let’s believe in “if only”. Let’s act upon the vision, the picture His word paints for us.

It is relevant. It is precious. It is attainable.

If only… Hold on to the dream. Let the dream give joy to your disciplines.

Your time is coming.