Here's an article I wrote about 15 years ago. Check it out and leave a comment below.
Remember the Dream
"What do you want to be when you grow up?" I asked Johran (our 12 year old son). He answered, "I want to be a football player!" "And what about you Quinn E." (now 4 years old), I wanna be a boxer, and a, and, and, and a wrestler!" he exclaims. "Who do you wanna be?" little Quinn added. I replied, "I want to be a preacher!" "Noooo," little Quinn answered, "don't be a preacher, you be a boxer too! Dad, who do you wanna be?" As you can see this conversation went on for a while.
We have such dreams when we are children but so many of us forget the dreams or even worse, we stop dreaming. Young Joseph in the book of Genesis had a dream, I believe from God. His brothers sheaves (bundles of hay or wheat) bowed in worship to his sheaf. They already hated him because of their father's favoritism towards young Joseph. This gave the brothers even more reason to hate him. Joseph had another dream that the sun, the moon and the eleven stars gave worship to him. This caused the envy to multiply in his brothers.
To make a long story short, Joseph's brothers were responsible for him being sold into slavery to the Egyptians. After about 13 years of tests, trials, persecution and promotion, Joseph was now a governor in Egypt. There was a great famine that was felt all over the world while Joseph was in power. People came from all over to buy grain. One group of men came and bowed in reverence before Joseph looking to buy food to bring back home. Joseph recognized these men as his brothers. While pondering, Joseph Remembered the Dream God had given him some 13 years ago.
What dream has God given you? Have you become discouraged because you do not see how it could come to past? Did you bury it because of the hard challenges you faced?
Sometimes we feel that we have been through so much that pursuing this dream is just too much. Have you given up trying to imagine because you have been so let down in the past? What has hindered you from dreaming?Here is the big question.
What is hindering you from fulfilling that dream?I want to list a some points to help you Remember the Dream and Fulfill it!
#1. Remember the Dream.
Recall your ambitions. Flip through the files of your mind, past the discouragement, hurts and fears. Pull out your dream that's been on the shelf. It seemed so impossible and so big! Dust it off and at least write it down in a notebook.
#2. Imagine it!
You have to first see it in your mind. Picture it over and over. Everything you see and touch is a product of someone's thoughts. See yourself doing "it." As you imagine it, you are preparing yourself for the next step.
#3. Believe that you can do it.
Many of us believe that God can do anything but fail. If that is the case, then why can't God do it through you? Start saying I can do it. Really believe that you can! You can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13). Don't worry about how, just believe you can. David Schwartz wrote, "The how-to-do-it always comes to the person who believes he can do it."
#4. Get the strategy.
Once you really believe you can, get ready to receive God's plan. Ask Him for it. Receive it by faith. Take time to meditate and pray and keep a note pad and pen handy. Jot down the ideas and people that arise in your spirit.
Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established (Proverbs 16:3).
#5. Demonstrate what you believe.
This step requires that you step out in faith, following God's plan, doing God's way. If you really believe you will show it. Do not be swayed by the opinions of man. Stay focused. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as often as necessary.
Make your Dream a Reality!