I think a huge detriment to my generation is that many are afraid or hesitant to dream big. We are told that we need a job that pays really well, and without this money we can’t do anything. People are always afraid of not living up to an impossible standard set by people around or themselves. I think people who know their identity in the Lord are not afraid to dream! It is so important to know your identity,who God says you are. You know this by talking to the Father. Once you know this, you can ask the Lord about His vision(future job, ministry, family ect) for your life. It is truth that the Lord gives us the desires of our hearts, but His vision for our lives is far better than anything we could dream. Once you know your identity in Christ alongside a strong relationship with Him, figure out what characteristics you value most in life! You can sit and figure out what values match your vision. When you walk out the values, vision, and calling, other people will notice. They will see this confidence and want it for themselves. This is a great opportunity to point others toward Jesus. There is always more in our walks with Christ, so our lives are about being flexible and ready if the Lord wants to change your future vision. This can be really hard if you have a tight grip on what you want your life to look like. Or the opposite, if you have no vision for your life, you will not get anywhere.
The Lord convicted me of this in Ethiopia. I had a good mindset of open hands, I did not care where the Lord took me. My problem was that I was just waiting for a sign or a word, without doing anything. He told me that I was not dreaming big things or taking steps in any direction. I received the analogy of a car. The driver can not steer a car where the engine is not turned on and when the gas pedal isn’t being stepped on. He can’t direct someone who isn’t moving. I had to sit with Him multiple times and think of my wildest dreams, no matter how big no matter the cost financially. It was amazing to see what I am truly interested in doing to advance the Kingdom. Once I had my wildest dreams, I figured out my values and then my vision.
Some of my wildest dreams are justice for refugees fleeing war stricken countries, being a travel journalist writing about what God is doing in crisis stricken countries, improving water quality and availability, or educating people on how deforestation not only affects the environment but people too. These are just some examples. The common theme of all of my dreams, is that I care about justice for unheard and unseen people, by loving them in ways Jesus would. I care about creating a space where people are aware of the movement of Holy Spirit. I desire to share and teach what the Lord is sharing with me in a non condemning manner. My top values are communication, freedom, service, risk taking, and love/affection. Do you see how all of these line up with the visions for my life of bringing Kingdom on earth! This was amazing to know and now to have as an arrow to point where I should go.
I pray that these tools and my example can help you refocus your goals! Sit with the Lord and hash out what you want and ultimately what He wants! Here is the list of values where I picked mine! Start out by picking 20, then 10, then 5! Dream your biggest dreams, and find the connection between all of them! THAT IS YOUR KINGDOM PURPOSE!! Please reach out to me if you have any questions about this process. It has helped me so much to find peace about my future. My email is : [email protected]
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Values list
Love/affection Humor Competition Honesty/Integrity Patience Autonomy Wisdom Competence Recognition Truth Innovation Effectiveness Trust Quality Strength Growth Happiness Challenge Family Teamwork Loyalty Communication Independence Hope Health Prosperity/wealth Courage Open-mindedness Variety Achievement/success Harmony Productivity Intelligence Freedom Flexibility Risk taking Security Friendship Creativity Dependability Spirituality/faith Respect Decisiveness Empathy Simplicity Discipline Curiosity Service Power Equality Diversity Beauty
