One of the saddest things I encounter as I travel across the country is that the Body of Christ is filled to overflowing with believers who received a word from God, men and women who were burning with a passion to do something tremendous for God in this world, but the dream thieves pressured them and pressured them, whittling them down and breaking them down, until they let their dream slowly drain out of their hearts and minds.
The exciting and adventurous and faith-filled life that they once envisioned and looked forward to has been reduced to a regular, boring, grinding routine.
In my services, I see and talk with people who early in life burned with a dream from heaven.
For example, some of them knew that they had the ability to make millions of dollars, that God had gifted them to help finance the preaching of the gospel throughout the world and bring in the end-time harvest that is currently taking place.
There are those who were born to have their own businesses or ministries, but they have settled for less, for a mediocre life. Now I want you to understand that "less" and "mediocre" do not mean that being a ditch digger is less and mediocre, and being an international evangelist is the pinnacle of success and fulfillment. Mediocrity is simply not being all that God called you to be.
If you are a ditch digger and you know in your heart that you are called to be an international evangelist, then you are settling for less - you have chosen to live a mediocre life.
But if you are an international evangelist and God has called you to be a ditch digger, you are also settling for less and living a life of mediocrity.
A believer's purpose, fulfillment, and greatest joys and adventures can only be found through following the plan of God for their lives.
Unfortunately, one of the scapegoats people use for coming to the end of their lives without accomplishing what God has called them to do is their children. They say, "Well, you know, if I didn't do anything else, I raised some good kids."
Certainly, raising godly, healthy, and productive children is a high priority in our lives, but it is no excuse for ignoring or choosing not to fulfill the call of God on our lives. And, the trust is if you refuse to follow the direction of the Holy Spirit for your life, you are not setting a godly example for your children anyway!
You are going to perpetuate your frustration and pass your failure down to the next generation.
If you realize that you have allowed the dream thieves to steal your dream, remember this: it doesn't matter how old you are, because it is never too late to begin pursuing God's purpose and plan for your life. Moses was 80 years old when God called him out of the wilderness to confront Pharaoh!
The main thing to remember is that whey you get a word from God you must "hold fast," wrap your arms around it, hold it tight, and keep it down in your heart. Do everything in your power to keep it from being stolen from you - and go after it with all of your might!
Excerpt permission granted by Albury Publishing