Should I Follow My Dreams?
Pursue God more than you pursue any dream
I was working at a well-known financial firm, climbing the proverbial ladder and pursuing my dream. At least that is what I thought… so why did I feel like such a fraud? How had the dream become a seemingly endless pursuit of a goal that I wasn’t even sure I wanted to achieve any longer?
Between the day I said yes to the opportunity to advance in my career and the day I walked away, Jesus came calling and I gave my life to Christ. The more I began to draw near to Him, the more I realized that I felt like I was out of place because the dream job I was pursuing was not God’s plan for me. It was a vain pursuit.
God’s Word doesn’t ever tell us to pursue our dreams. Not even once. The Bible does tell us, however, to pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, godliness, steadfastness and gentleness. Jesus teaches us to seek first His kingdom, not seek first our dreams and plans.
Let me be clear. God is not against us having dreams. He wants us to use our gifts and talents for His glory and the good of His people, but in order for us to know that we are pursuing a dream that God has given us and not a dream of our own making, we must pursue God more than we are pursuing anything else. Jesus didn’t say, “follow your dreams,” He said, “follow me.”
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
(Matthew 16:24 ESV)
As I grew closer to the Lord, I was able to walk away from pursuing a dream that I thought would bring me worldly success and fulfillment because God showed me something better. I didn’t have any idea where God was calling me to serve Him, but He was faithful in leading me because I was faithful in following Him. When we make it our deepest desire to know God, we might just find ourselves achieving dreams that we didn’t even know that we had.
There were many hiccups, bad decisions, and struggles encountered as I walked this path through a career change. Sometimes, the dreams we think the world wants us to pursue are the hardest to let go of, but worldly success does not equal godly success. When we seek Jesus first, He will bless others through our faithfulness and fill us with joy for the journey.
Reflection
1. Have you ever found yourself called away from a dream that you were pursuing? How did you seek God’s guidance in this change in your dreams?
2. What can you do to know God and discern His will for your dreams?
3. What is the next dream step God is calling you to take?
Goals
Share 3 things you can do this week in your pursuit to know more about the nature and sovereignty of God:
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
(Matthew 6:33 ESV)
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
(Matthew 16:24 ESV)
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
(2 Timothy 2:22 ESV)
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
(1 Timothy 6:11 ESV)