What is our dream?

I mean to be sharp with this post, not out of malicious desire, but that in being sharp, God might wound your heart and then in His grace bind you up, as He has done to me, and to countless others. And if you fear His reproach or the pains of pruning, be encouraged dear friends: He prunes you because you are a true branch, abiding to the true vine, bearing true and good fruit; He reproaches because He will not let His children run wild, but rather, will do all things to draw them to Himself. So take heart. May God use my simple thoughts and words to do much in your hearts.

I want to start by asking you to think and dream a little bit. Just one question, but take your time with it, think deeply about it.

If you could do whatever you wanted, money was no issue, what would you be doing in your dream life?

Don’t just say, “oh I’d travel” or “eat a lot of food,” but really, in your mind explore this dream. What do you wake up to? Who do you wake up with? Are you married? Do you have kids? What’s the view that you see? Take a few minutes to live within your greatest and grandest dreams and desires; to take it all in; to take inventory of what is there.

Does your dream include views like this?

Or maybe it’s got food like this?

Or maybe cities like this?

But does it have any of this?

Or any of this?

Is God even a part of your greatest and highest dreams? In your dreams, are you delighting in God? Is He, rather than the things and views and people in your dreams, your actual highest and greatest desire?

Is God even present in your dreams?

For some of you, by God’s grace, you can joyfully and happily answer “Yes!” and for that we give glory to God! But for many of us, the answer is often a regretful, (hopefully even) sorrowful “no…” He isn’t part of our dreams and He is not our greatest desire. And if we find ourselves here, where our dreams are full of His created things but manifestly missing the creator — oh let us weep! Let us come to the throne of grace and mercy (an access that has been purchased for us by the blood of Jesus) and plead for forgiveness through the blood of our precious Saviour!

What then shall we do?

Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (Galatians 3:2–3 ESV)

Having been saved by grace through faith, we are to continue in grace through faith. This is true regardless of how we are feeling; in the good times, we continue in grace; in the rough times, we continue in grace. At no point in time is it ever a good (or useful) idea to try to start and work by our own strength and in our own flesh.

And so, the question still stands: what must we do? We must be earnest in prayer, and in faith wait for God to work in our hearts. Pleading at the throne of grace and mercy the promises that He has given to us! We are to pray the promises of God to Him, because what He has promised He will do! And so let us consider just a few key promises to pray and plead for ourselves and for our friends (from DesiringGod):

1. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! (Psalm 119:36)
2. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. (Psalm 119:18)
3. Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. (Psalm 86:11)
4. Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14)

If God is lacking from our dreams, we ought to have little assurance that we are His. For those whom He saves, He gives a new heart that desires for Him above all. But remember, dear friends, salvation is of the Lord. So in your doubt and in your weakness, run not to your own flesh or your own works, but run to Him who has by His blood been a ransom for many.

Grace and peace.