“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..”
Ephesians 3:20
THE AMERICAN DREAM
We all know what the American Dream is right? I know for myself exactly what the American Dream looks like…it was impressed upon me from middle school…teachers and movies and advertisements would say, “Go to school, graduate with a college degree, get a good paying job, find a spouse and settle down in a nice home (don’t forget the white picket fence), have a couple of kids, no accrued debt, get a Golden Retriever, grow old and live happily ever after.” This is the American Dream. I believed for so long that this was all there was. I believed this even up until a couple months ago.
Even though I believed this notion and dream, I didn’t see myself achieving it. I’ve had a few different jobs…none of which I could see myself at for more than a couple of years. I’m not on the horizon of marriage, and I still live with my parents.
So yeah, back to believing in the ideal ‘American Dream’.
I signed up for the World Race back in April of 2014. At the time I just wanted more from my life, I wanted to be a small part in the fulfillment of the Great Commission, but just 11 months worth. After I finished the Race I saw myself returning home, a new and changed woman; a woman who found satisfaction in serving overseas for a season, who partook in expanding God’s Kingdom, and I thought that would be enough. I thought I would go back to a job that could more than financially provide for me, that I would soon after meet my future husband and marry and have kids. I planned to continue being apart of ministry within my home church, maybe travel and do missions work here and there. Not a bad plan. Ideal really.
But then this thought kept sneaking back into my head.
A crazy thought.
This wasn’t what I wanted. It wasn’t what I planned.
At first I actually couldn’t tell where this crazy idea had come from. Me? I would never willingly come up with this plan. Satan? He would hate this thought. Then who?
Sadly enough it took me a long time to come to the conclusion that it was God speaking to me.
This crazy thought followed these basic guidelines: Screw the ‘American Dream’…screw the ideas that media and the education system had fed me all of my life.
Okay, that’s harsh. I think those dreams can be beautiful and intended for a person, if that I what God has called you to.
There is this book I have begun reading recently since I’ve had this new concept in my head, it’s called, ‘Radical’ by David Platt (CHECK IT OUT! SO GOOD), and there are countless relatable quotes in it, here is one of my favorites:
“The believe they were created for more than a Christian spin on the American Dream. They believe the purpose of their lives is deeper than having a nice job, raising a decent family, living a comfortable life, and tacking church attendance onto the end of it. They believe Jesus has called them to a much higher plane and given them a much greater dream. They believe God has shown them great grace in order that He might use them to accomplish the glorious, global, God time, and they don’t want to settle for anything less than radical abandonment to that purpose.”
God has been teaching me the difference between the American Dream and the Kingdom Dream.
THE KINGDOM DREAM
Here is the basis of the Kingdom Dream: Matthew 28:19
Being a disciple.
It will include furthering the Kingdom of God, whether it be through short or long term missions, ministry in America or ministry overseas, planting churches, discipling young people, or holding orphans.
It looks drastically different than American society and comforts of the world.
He has been showing me that His plan for my life is going to revolve more around the Kingdom Dream, if I’ll choose it.
This means obedience. Currently it feels like a loss…something to grieve. I may have to give up a lot of the timelines I had for my life, I’ll give up the normal things of life in order to receive the radical things.
Here’s another quote by David Platt:
“Radical obedience to Christ is not easy… It’s not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And he is more than enough for us.”
God wants my life (and yours) to look radically different than the worlds. He wants us to stop succumbing to the culture disease that money, family and a title is all there is.
I trust God to not only meet my needs when I am serving Him, but also to give me the desires of my heart. It may not be in my timing but it will be in His. I look at a general picture of what my future is going to be and am surprised, it doesn’t seem easy, it very likely won’t be, but it will be blessed by the Lord.
So here I am saying that I choose the Kingdom Dream.
