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When was the last time you allowed yourself to dream? I know that life can cause you to silence the desires of your heart. Sometimes, it takes the wisdom of someone who has gone before you to remind you to dream again.

My “Aunt Jo” is that source of wisdom for me. She’s a beloved church member who has encouraged and supported my family for as long as I can remember. Now, in her later years, she intentionally and actively reflects on what it means to live a full and meaningful life. 

So when Aunt Jo asked me about my dreams for my life in this season, it stopped me in my tracks.

You see, Aunt Jo wasn’t asking me about the tasks I had written down in my planner or the boxes I needed to check. As someone who has watched me navigate through life over the years, she wanted to know if I was making room in my life to dream.

And my friend, there is a difference between having a goal and having a dream. 

A goal is typically about what you have to do out of obligation, but a dream is more about what you genuinely want to do from your heart.

If you’ve found yourself longing for the chance to dream again, this episode of The Sister Circle Podcast is the one for you. Allow me to share a few things that will help you determine what you want for your life.

Think about your life

Give yourself permission to think about what lights you up in the best way possible. It’s easy to get caught up in what everyone else thinks you should be doing, but focus on what would make you content with your life. And if you need to get away from distractions to think about your life, then do it! I love to spend time at a coffee shop writing down my thoughts. Changing my scenery gives me the space to get away from my responsibilities and truly hear from God. I want to encourage you to do the same. If you can’t get to a coffee shop, sit on your front or back porch. Plan to get up a little later or a little earlier for some peace and quiet. Visit your local library, put on some headphones, and let your mind explore the possibilities of your heart. Take the time to ask yourself the important questions that will help you define your dreams. What brings you joy? What would you pursue if you had the time and energy to do it? Be honest with yourself and write your dreams down.

Determine your why 

It’s not enough to have a dream. If you want to undergird your dreams with fuel and power, you’ll need to have a motivating reason to pursue the desires of your heart. You activate your dreams by knowing your why. If your dream is to travel the world, your why might be to step outside of your comfort zone and experience different cultures. If you have a dream to start a business, your why might be to quit your current job and to have an asset or wealth-building entity to pass down to your family. Get clear on your why, and that will inspire you to take your dream from a wish to reality.

Partner with God

Once you’re sure of your dreams and your why, surrender it all to the Lord. Of course, He already knows the desires of your heart, but there’s something that happens when you intentionally include Him in your plans. The path to your dream may be different than how you envision it, but when you let go of control, you can leave space for the Holy Spirit to guide you along the way. Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. This is good news! God works in you to create the will inside of you to do what brings Him pleasure. When you submit your dreams to the Lord, you can also invite Him to work out His will in you and conform your dreams to the dreams He has for you.

It matters that you set aside time to dream, and I’m so excited about the possibilities that await you on the other side of your exploration of personal possibility. 

I’ve lived long enough to now be on the other side of dreams I had back in my twenties. Seeing the impossible take shape in my life has been amazing to witness. Now, in my fifties, I’m challenged to dream again. Aunt Jo made me stop in my tracks and consider the dreams that I have for the next thirty years of my life, Lord willing.  And by God’s grace, I have time to dream new dreams, and I’m excited about doing so. 

Maybe no one has asked you about what you want out of life lately. Maybe you’re busy focusing on everyone else’s dreams in this season. But life is too short to let your dreams disappear into the background.

So take a deep breath, share your heart with God, and dare to dream again.

Highlights from Today’s Episode

  • The importance of dreaming again
  • The secret for activating your dreams
  • The power of dreaming with God

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Other Stuff to Check Out

Let’s Talk!

  1. What dream has God placed on your heart in this season?
  2. What is your “why” for pursuing your dream(s)?
  3. When you reach your latter years, what will be the things you wish you made room for? How can you make room for those things now?

 

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