Dreams With Wings

I cannot begin to count the number of times that a dream slipped through my hands because I didn’t act upon it. It lingered in my mind, danced in my head, waiting to be birthed. I’d chew on the idea, noodle on it and chew on it some more – all in my mind, of course. Finally, the dream slipped away – avoiding recapture. Over the years, I would repeat this routine and another dream would get away – all because I was afraid to move it from conception to something concrete. 

Fear – that dreaded word paralyzed me. Whether it was the fear of failure or the fear of success, I had a tendency to sabotage my own work to avoid putting myself out there. I did not realize that the gifts that God placed in me were necessary and sufficient for the work He had for me. Instead of being focused on the outcome, I placed more emphasis on my fear, which resulted in so much wasted time and unproductive years.

The turning point in my life came with the realization that fear could not co-exist with purpose.  If I wanted to be used of God for His purpose, I could not allow fear to be my banner. By empowering fear, I was defeated even before I began to walk in purpose. 

Then, I had to replace my fears with the truth of God’s Word. What did God’s Word say about me? As I began meditating on, thinking about and pondering who God made me to be, over time, fear slowly released its grip. After all, who was I to question how God would use me for His glory?

How many times have you awaited the manifestation of a dream only to have someone else successfully implement the very idea that you had? How many times have you chased a dream and the closer you got, the farther it slipped away? Just as you’d given up on your dream it became someone else’s reality.

But today, you can move toward your dream life by acknowledging, taking responsibility for and then putting aside all the hidden factors affecting your ability to be successful. You know the ones — those that rise to the top for no apparent reason, sit on your shoulder speaking critically of your every move and prevent you from seriously gaining a foothold on your dreams.

By opening your mind and heart to the person whose real thoughts and emotions are not open for public viewing, acknowledge the fact that it’s the real you who has to be reckoned with, dealt with, and confronted. Once you acknowledge what’s on the inside, you can begin to strategically and honestly deal with the hindrances lingering within. After all, you cannot successfully address what you don’t know.

Nor do you have a right to hold the real you hostage.