Boldly follow the dreams of your heart

What do you want in life? If you could accomplish anything without restrictions, what would you do?

Just like the people of Israel in the Old Testament of the Bible, you may have wondered off and experienced obstacles and stumbling blocks, but God still has a Promised Land in your future. Regardless of limitations, past setbacks, or undeserved hurts, you can still realize the desires of your heart and fulfill your destined purpose.

A few weeks back, I went to my daughter’s field day at her school and while I was there, I remembered a wonderful story that I had read years ago. It was about a little girl who was born with a muscle missing in her foot, and she had to wear a leg brace.

Through the years, her parents encouraged her, telling that her handicap was just a small obstacle to overcome. “Always reach for your dreams” “God wants you to reach your full potential,” and “Do not settle for anything less,” they’d remind her. What’s more, the parents taught their child that her attitude, belief in herself, determination, and persistence would ultimately produce victory. And most importantly, faith in God would result in joy and contentment.

One day, the girl came home from school and as she stepped off the bus, she said to her mother, “We had field day this afternoon and all the kids at school competed in races, jumping matches and other events.” Before the mother could encourage her daughter, the youngster exclaimed, “… and I won two of the races!”

The girl was holding in her hand two royal-blue, ‘first-place’ ribbons.

Smiling with pride, the mother asked, “Which two

races did you win? And how did you win over the others?”

Without delay, the girl replied, “Well, mom, I had an advantage.” The mother questioned, “Oh, what was that?”

Determinedly, the girl declared, “My advantage was… I had to try harder.” Dare to look hard at your goals. What do you really desire?

Life is meant to be lived. So, with fortitude and determination, boldly follow the dreams of your heart.

Maybe you went through a difficult time and you think, ‘My best days have passed

me by,’ or ‘I wasted years in that adverse situation.’ Trust in God’s timing, for He can take the years that you think you wasted, and in an instant, can accelerate you way ahead.

Possibly, you think ‘it’s too late,’ ‘I have reached my limits,’ or ‘it’s the end of the road.’ Just when the Israelites thought that they had come to a dead end in their journey, God parted the Red Sea. So, keep moving forward in faith, and watch what God will do for you.

Perhaps, you made an effort to achieve a dream and failed, and now you’re ready to quit. Well, walk outside and behold the butterfly, and recall all the stages it had to go through in order to become the exquisite creature God intended. Thus, persist and try again. God is preparing something much better for you, even more than you can imagine.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote, “It takes as much courage to have tried and failed as it does to have tried and succeeded.” Hence, continue to dare to dream big dreams. Set your sights high, far above the ordinary. Always be yourself, think your own great thoughts, and don’t run with the crowd. Have a resolute aim. Be a person of honor. Strive for excellence in all that you undertake and embrace every opportunity. You have potential far beyond what you think is possible. Therefore, never stop trying to be the best that you can be.

Remember, it is not what happens to you that can affect you; it is what you decide to do about it. I like the Scripture that tells us: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7) Therefore, do not allow your mind to be filled with discouragement or hopelessness. This mind-set can allow you to accept circumstances as unchangeable or impossible. Our mind can bear a resemblance to a garden. What we grow in the garden of our mind will be according to the kind of seeds that we planted in it. So, never allow negative thoughts to take root and grow. Instead, have a strong will and strive to always look for the best.

Dear readers, every morning, let us choose to think and talk optimistically about those around us and for our future. Let’s pray, believe and be filled with joyful expectation, for belief is a positive and draws out the best in us. It can make the unseen visible and can fuel our perseverance. “If you can believe, all things are possible.” (Mark 23). It is just a matter of time before we prevail.

A while ago a reader wrote, “Many times, we do not understand why we go through what we go through, but God has a divine purpose and He does lead us in the correct direction, and has a plan for each one of us.”

Our life is a priceless gift, and it is also a great responsibility. And what we do with this gift, born from a love for others, and done for God’s glory, is of the utmost importance.

My good friend, Michelle, recently told me, “What you are is a result of what you have done. What you become is a result of what you do right now!”

So, move ahead positively, and utilize your many talents and abilities. Look for those windows of opportunity to open. And never, ever give up, “...being steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, and knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (I Corinthians 15:58)

All of heaven is behind you and cheering you onward.