Surrendering Our Precious Dreams to God

This quote has changed my life. It hangs framed on my wall, on the dashboard in my car etc.
May we learn how to surrender our precious dreams to God!

God has been teaching me this lesson of trust & surrender for about four months now. I still haven't fully grasped the significance of it yet...

Deep down, I do believe in trusting God fully, no matter what happens, no matter what life throws at me. But when it comes down to actually living out that belief, I have a harder time with it.

"'For I know the Plans I have for you,' declares the Lord,

'Plans for good & not for evil, to give you a future and a hope...'"

- Jeremiah 29:11

This is not my first post on surrendering our precious dreams to God. (You can see my other post here). Also see what I've been reading on this topic- here (what inspired this thought 2 months ago), here & here.

Last night, I read a quote that impacted me. It is-

"Stress often comes from holding onto a dream too tightly."

 

I don't know who said it. Or how I ran across it. But it's stuck in my brain all night & again this morning. I can't get it out of my head.

 

"And we know that all things work

together for the good of those who love God,
who have been Called according to His Purpose..."

- Romans 8:28

(my life-verse)

 

Expanding on the topic, carrying it further- It's also about us failing to entrust that dream to God, letting Him mold His Will into our desires; trusting Him with the outcome, no matter what happens.

 

This is a hard lesson for me to learn, especially when my dreams don't match God's exactly. Sometimes I desire things that God doesn't have in mind.

 

"'For My Thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My Ways,' declares the Lord.
^'For as the Heavens are higher than the earth,
so are My Ways higher than your ways
    & My Thoughts than your thoughts...'"

- Isaiah 55:8-9
 

I am reminded of these song lyrics-

 

"All to You, I surrender/
Everything, every part of me/
All to You, I surrender/
All of my dreams, all of me..."

- Kim Walker-Smith

("Surrender")

 

And of

 

"For we walk by faith, not by sight."

- 2 Corinthians 5:7

 

And of my favorite song-

I will Walk by Faith/
Even when I cannot see/
Well because this broken road/
Prepares Your Yill for me.."

- Jeremy Camp

("Walk by Faith")

 

As one of my friends brought to my attention today, it isn't just our dreams that we sometimes struggle with leaving at God's feet. Sometimes we hold onto things (possessions, wealth, careers, hobbies, activities, people etc) too closely, not daring to fully trust God with them. Like we could do a better job ourselves. What blasphemy! (and what a rediculous thought!)

 

So, in closing, some food for thought...

 

* What are you holding onto too closely?
* What are you afraid to surrender to God fully?
* What are you afraid to lose?

* Do you trust God completely, no matter what?

* Have you fully surrendered your dreams, desires, passions etc to God?
* Do you trust that God knows best?

 

"And I am sure of this,  that He who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.."
- Philippians 1:6