I realize there have been and will continue being many posts on dreaming and vision. I am not kidding myself that I actually have anything new to add to this party, but I hope you will hang in there with me. Yesterday morning I was doing “spade work” on a sermon on Elisha’s servant, found in 2 Kings 6: 8-19. I will recap it for those of you who can’t stop to read it. Elisha is surrounded by the king of Syria’s army. When his servant looks out, all he sees is the enemy. Fear grips him, but Elisha tells him not to be afraid. Then Elisha prays for the servant’s eyes to be opened, and the young man sees, not the army of the enemy, but that the whole mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. What a mismatch! The Syrian army is blinded and Elisha actually leads them to Samaria.
When I read that, I got chills. I have heard missionaries speak of events like this happening. I heard one missionary, whom I trust completely, tell of the time when his mission team was braced for certain death, but nothing ever happened. One day the leader of the band of marauders was saved and in the course of talking this missionary asked him why he never attacked that night. The leader said, “We couldn’t. Who was that army you had protecting you that night?” Maybe you have your own story of God’s miraculous intervention you have heard or experienced.
But this story of Elisha’s servant’s eyes being opened really struck home with me yesterday. There is a quote from the movie, Open Range, that says what I am thinking right now:
Well, you may not know this, but there’s things that gnaw at a man worse than dying. Charley Waite (Kevin Costner)
I can remember as a kid playing Cowboys & Indians and pretending to be Mike Nelson (Lloyd Bridges) in Sea Hunt (I know I’m dating myself). We used to go on “safaris,” and pitch tents, and cook baked potatoes by burying them in a pit with a wood fire. Sometimes I wonder where that “dreamer” went. At the end of Field of Dreams (Okay, so I like KC), when Ray hears the mantra, “If you build he will come,” and blames Shoeless Joe, Joe directs his attention to the man whom Ray recognizes his father, “before he was worn down by life. Look at him. He’s got his whole life in front of him, and I’m not even a glint in his eye.”
All this has got me thinking. When did I/you stop dreaming big dreams? When did I/you stop seeing God take “impossible” situations and make them possible? When did I/you stop seeing the Bible as more than a book for sermons or good stories? There are things that gnaw at a man more than dying. Living a life without dreams has to be near the top of the list. I would like to hear your thoughts and/or story…if you care to share them.
Reminded me of a quote by C.S. Lewis, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
It’s not an excuse for not dreaming, but I guess I just am learning to see God in small things that many don’t find extraordinary.
That said, Bible is still quite extraordinary (no matter what some say…)…
Love that Lewis quote Zee. Nothing wrong with seeing the simple things and allowing God to expand your horizons. Thanks for coming by. 🙂
I love that passage of Scripture. Sometimes what we see is powerful as in the case with Elisha and sometimes what we do not see is powerful as in the case of the servant.
I have often heard it said – “You get what you are looking for”. I want to be found as someone looking for the dreams and visions that God has given me.
Love the post today Bill. Let us keep dreaming big dreams.
Like the way you put it Jim. Love you “look” as well. Keep dreaming big dreams indeed. Thanks Jim.
Okay, that verse gave me chills too. I stopped for a long time. But as of lately I’ve been dreaming a lot. I think its the season that I’m in.
I love that you are dreaming Michael. Those folks at Nat won’t know what hit them! lol May you always be a dreamer. Thanks for commenting.
First off, love Field of Dreams. Great movie!
Re: Dreaming… it’s not that I don’t like to ‘dream big’ or let God do the impossible, etc… its just that my mindset so often is cautious and calculated in that I avoid risks. I chalk it up to “Oh I’m just trying to make wise, practical decisions”… but every now and again I see something: that way of thinking/living is not freeing. Thanks for making me think today, bill. 🙂
I love that movie also Dustin. Even as i was watching it to make sure the quote was accurate I choked up when he played catch with his father. Oh man…. IMHO there is nothing wrong with being cautious and calculating but don’t allow it to stop you from dreaming either. I think there is room for both. My .02 worth. Thanks for coming by Dustin.
Awesome Bill! Sad but true. We set our expectations on God and ourselves too low. Thank you fir the wake up call.
Thanks for the kind words Tom. You’re welcome for the call. 🙂 Way to sum it up.
Hi Bill,
I like the idea of dreaming, but I like the idea of dreaming the dreams purposed for us by God more. I think of Joseph and his dreams. That he would be great one day and his mother and father and brothers would bow down to him. My belief is that Joseph kept this dream close to him even at times when it looked like that dream was never going to happen. Joseph spent alot of years in prison.
I believe that as we learn to walk with God and love God he brings vision and dreams to us. Those are the kinds that we want to have as believers and followers of Jesus. Jesus despised the cross and the shame because he saw beyond the cross. Moses despised his role as Pharoah’s grandson and a leader in the kingdom of Egypt
when he began to get a vision and dream of leading the people of Israel to freedom.
As for taking risks, I agree with you Bill. There are times to take appropriate risks in our lives, and there are times to sit at the feet of Jesus and wait.
Dreams should always be nurtured by our relationship with God if we claim they are godly visions. He will never ask us to do anything contrary to His Word. Good example with Joseph. Thanks Linda.
I think some people just have a fear of failure that overrides their sense of adventure. If you don’t try you won’t fail. I’ve had a few failures but the adventures were worth it. I’ve never had a dream or vision or anything supernatural that I have acted on. Just good old “I think I can”
I believe you are right Jeff about fear. Too many are motivated (or overcome) by it. I would rather try and fail than not try at all. Love that you are willing to live for the adventure. Didn’t mean to imply that all dreams were or had to be supernatural. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Jeff,
My “I think I can” is extremely supernatural. It’s the Holy Spirit making good on my Father’s promises to me through the New Covenant.
Bill, this post was something I needed to read.
I think we stop dreaming as we grow older. Life’s challenges make us wary of opportunities. We grow hesitant and allow our fears to stand in the way of possibility.
I know that this has been the case for me. Being the realist that I am, I am overly analytical of situations. And yet, I too, have heard stories, like the one with your missionary friend, and it reminds me that there is so much more.
Jon: please man, don’t stop dreaming!! NO matter how old you get! i went through a period several years ago, before moving here, that I stopped. I almost “quit” when I realized I had stopped dreaming. God brought me here and I look forward to the challenge of being challenged again. Do be careful of over-analyzing everything though. sometimes stepping out in faith is totally illogical. (I smell another post somewhere). Thanks Jon.
Sorry I got here late to comment. I was out of town meeting my best male friend for lunch over 2 hours away. Finally were able to meet after several postponements. Thanks for commenting and being patient.
I stopped dreaming big dreams over the last ten years when I faced trial after trial. I just didn’t believe God really did great things for people any more but rather just gave them enough to survive. It’s stupid, I know. But after Alabama, I believe in big dreams again.
Glad to see the dreams is back Jason. That trip to Alabama was just what the doctor ordered. Thanks.
Dreams:
Well I think we all have nocturnal dreams no matter what age we are. A while back I used to have nightmares ( yes them types).
I am in a dark place and am attacked by demons that actually seem real. All I do is say the 23rd Psalms and the Lords prayer over and over again and asking for salvation. Then I am cast into a warm glowing light with what appears to be God saying I will save you.Just walk with me.
Just day dreaming: Yep I still do that. It is what creates a desire to achieve another level in one’s life. Only when you build off those dreams does one trully find the answers of success or failure.
Thomas Edison had a dream, the Wright Brothers had a dream, MArtin Luther King, had a dream,William Crosley had a dream, but his was too early,
As long as we have dreams we are alive. To stop is to quit living spiritually and physically.
Am I making any sense?
Yep, making sense Larry. No dream= no living. Or at least blah living. Good examples of people who had dreams. Thanks for the input.
I think we get distracted. I think we all start off with big dreams, but we can’t dive right in. Our world uses money, and girls are pretty, and the lawn doesn’t mow itself. And I do think there this something to laying low and living a simple yet beautiful existence and not having to build a huge empire on your back. But at the same time plenty of people seemingly do “nothing” with their life and aren’t living an interesting story.
I think you are right Charlie. Life happens and sometimes just sucks the like out of us. And you are right: there is nothing wrong with laying low but there are also those whose whole being resonates with dreams. I want my story to be interesting not humdrum. Thanks for the thought.
Great post. I think so many people have stopped dreaming big. At some point in life they just stop. Which is sad because God desires that we dream big. I believe Christian leaders need to flame their dreams and also the dreams of others.
It would be great to know when people stop dreaming and why. Thanks for commenting Dan. Love having your voice here.