Monday, August 5, 2013

Dream Again!


And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed... Genesis 42:9


Do you remember when you used to dream? Now I'm not talking about those fantasies that took you to faraway places (although from time to time that would be nice!). I'm referring to those vivid images of what you wanted to accomplish that once clouded your mental skies. Although dreams are often a part of our experience when we are young, somewhere in our latter years we tend to stop dreaming. As Picasso famously stated, “All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once one grows up." What he was alluding to is the tendency many individuals have to constrict their creativity and downsize their dreams. Sometimes this occurs because of letdowns which drain us of the strength to dream. Drama, dissapointments,and delays can discourage us to continue dreaming. In addition, life also happens and causes our dreams to be deferred. On this journey, unintended items often show up on our itenarary causing us to lose focus of our dreams. In either case, today I want to encourage you to dream again! As Langston Hughes poetically proclaimed, "Hold fast to dreams for when dream die life is a broken winged-bird that bird that cannot fly!"

If anybody knew anything about dreams it had to be Joseph. The Bible says as a young person he had multiple dreams. Of course his dreams were Divinely designed to point him to his destiny. Although he had big dreams, the text let's us know he experienced plenty of drama! First of all, after sharing his dream with his brothers, the Bible says they hated him. Make a quick note to self;(Be careful who you share your dreams with!) Joseph also experienced the disappointment of being placed in a pit and sold into slavery by these same brothers who even declared, "Let's see what will happen to his dreams!". For years Joseph also dealt with the delays of living in Egypt as a slave and even as a prisoner. Through all of this, the above text reminds us that as a mature man, Joseph held fast to his dream and was able to live out his destiny. That's my word for you today, regardless of how your life has gone down or what has let you down, today dare to declare that you will dream again!

My prayer for you today is that God will give you the capacity and the confidence to dream again!

PEACE!