DISCIPLINE AND DREAMS
Jenna Worsham
Today's Scripture: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9, ESV
Theme: Keep doing what you know to do until God comes through or reveals a new direction.
DREAMS
Dreams don’t pay bills. Dreams don’t sustain relationships. Dreams don’t mature our faith all on their own. What dreams do is remind us of our “why.” Before God allowed Mary to carry a baby she didn’t help create, parenting with a man who knew he wasn’t the father, God gave Mary a vision of the Savior, His Name, and her assignment and purpose.
Before Joseph was sold into slavery, separated from his family, and wrongly imprisoned, God gave him a dream of a future of respect and God-ordained authority. God’s vision is much the same for all of His people. Some visions are common to all believers. We can start with those, including: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5, ESV). This one command can direct even the most basic and daily of decisions.
KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU KNOW
Today, I cared for children aged toddlers to teens, led Life Group, welcomed my husband home from a business trip, worked a few hours, calmed some middle school angst, and helped coordinate care for my ailing grandma. None of those tasks seems like a dream fulfilled. Today was rather ordinary, yet executed with as much excellence and purpose as I could muster.
This morning, I read from Matthew, Psalm, and Genesis before sunrise, prayed over my girls as they ran to the bus stop, and whispered a blessing over my toddler while he drank warm milk. This season, right here, is where God has me. I will do the tasks in front of me with as much excellence as I am able. I will intentionally continue habits that draw me closer to God.
You may be in a totally different situation or season. Yet we can both love God with all of our hearts, souls, and might immediately, and keep doing what He has said until He provides a new direction, vision, situation, or season.
DISCIPLINE
Just because I’m a dreamer doesn’t mean I don’t practice consistently. Being a dreamer doesn’t mean that I don’t follow through on my commitments. Dreamers aren’t all impulsive or eccentric. Behind a dreamer is determination, vision, focus and power to accomplish dreams … not just leave them as potential. As believers, we know that power comes from God, through a close relationship with Him. “So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit” (Galatians 6:9b, MSG). Keep the dream. Remember your “why.” Don’t give up on doing good.
Make It Personal: Name your “why.” What vision does God communicate in the Word that applies to all believers? Look up a few verses that communicate vision for everybody.
Pray: Lord, thank You for Your Word of encouragement and for clear vision. I commit today to develop habits that bring me closer to You and that refine my rough edges. I’ll never be exactly like Jesus; but help me to follow His example of looking to You for direction, continuing good work, doing what He knew, and loving You and all the crazy, imperfect people all around Him. Amen.
Read: James 1:25; Psalm 138:8; Galatians 6:8-10
Weekly Memory Verse: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3, ESV