The Bible has a lot to say about dreams and I think it’s very significant that throughout scripture God gave dreams to very ordinary people that set them on a path of fulfilling their God-given destiny. Acts 10:34 tells us God is no respecter of persons – He doesn’t have any favourites – we’re all His favourites!

Of course Joseph and Daniel are the first to come to mind I guess when we start looking at the dreamers in the Bible but there’s Gideon, Solomon and many others.

Joseph was a boy of about 17 who had some dreams. God-given dreams of greatness and being in a position of authority and influence. It’s fair to say that what didn’t come in the dream was diplomacy in how to share his dream with his family, however he still hung onto his dreams.

Have you ever had a dream and shared it with others and you get a “that’s nice” or “yeah right” sort of response? Often others will try and give you an identity that may or may not be in alignment with God’s identity for you. Joseph’s brothers labelled him a dreamer – but he held onto his dreams – knew his identity even while in ‘embryonic’ form.

Joseph dared to dream big dreams and dared to see himself as God saw him – wherever he went he rose to prominence because the Lord was with him.

With each of his setbacks – what did he do? He was diligent, faithful, seized every opportunity and you know what, he was an ordinary person like you and me! He was just someone who dared to dream and grab hold of that which God had placed in his heart.

We must hold onto our dreams even when the circumstances bear no witness to those dreams becoming reality. How do we do that? One day a time. We walk into our destiny one day at a time. In this age of instant everything – instant information, instant meals etc, it takes courage and persistence to hold onto our dreams.

I’ve been reminded again recently just how God uses dreams to bring about His purposes. He often gives us dreams that could ONLY be from Him because He’d have to be a part of them for them to become reality.

Prov 29:18 says;- “Without a vision people perish.”

Here’s something to think about; “If we don’t know where we’re going how will we know when we arrive?”

Helen Keller who at 19 months of age lost her sight and hearing but who overcame her physical disabilities to inspire people all over the world was once asked, “what is worse than being blind?” Her response was “Being able to see but having no vision.”

There was a time in my life where I was told I was going to fail. A large part of me wanted to run but there was also another large part that wanted to prove to those who were expecting me to fail they were wrong and prove to myself and others that I could succeed. I’m glad to say the 2^nd part won!

Without a dream, without a vision for our lives and those in our families we can become ‘becalmed on the sea of life’ – what happens then? We’re at the mercy of those around us – the mercy of peer pressure or secular humanism, the mercy of mediocrity and the pressure of a “near enough’s good enough” attitude.

You see without a vision we can just drift aimlessly through life just going through the motions without any purpose – Let me encourage you, we are all here for a purpose - God has a purpose and plan for each of you reading this article today.

We can’t live someone else’s dream but we can be inspired to learn and grow from what others are doing or have achieved in God then get a dream for ourself.

It doesn’t matter how many ‘miles are on your clock’. Moses was 80 and Aaron 83 yrs old when they went to Pharaoh. Caleb was 85 when he took possession of Hebron and said – “I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out.”

You know most often dreams take a while to come to pass – sometimes even a lifetime but let me encourage you today to hold onto your dreams.

My wife and I waited over 12 years for just one part of a dream to be fulfilled and not too patiently at times either but that part of the dream has led to another and then another and I believe the best is yet to come!

You may be reading this article and have had a dream to see loved ones come to Lord and those dreams are starting to fade a little. Perhaps you’ve said to yourself lately “ I can’t see how it’s going to happen.” Most likely, in the natural it seems impossible they’re so far away from Him that it would take a miracle. The good news for you today is God is in the miracle business!

Perhaps you’re reading this article and you feel you have been ‘becalmed on the sea of life’ – life itself has sucked the wind out of your sails.

Our dreams become destiny one step and one day at a time – a life of faithfulness and diligence brings great rewards both here and in the life to come.

Perhaps you’re reading this article and you once had a dream to see your healing. Allow God to breathe on that again today. He wants to lift off discouragement.

Perhaps you’ve given up on finding happiness in relationships – settled for “that’s my lot in life.” God takes the broken things and turns them into something of beauty. As you delight yourself in the Lord – He’ll grant the desires of your heart.

Let me encourage you today to ask the Holy Spirit to breathe life back into your dreams. If you don’t have a dream and vision for your life ask Him for one He’ll give it to you for certain.

Hold onto your dreams!