God-Sized Dreams: A 30-Day Journey of Faith and CourageSample

Keep Your Focus

I curl the covers around me and press my head deeper into the pillow. But sleep won’t come. Every time I close my eyes, all I can see is my calendar staring back at me. It’s filled to overflowing. I find myself longing to shred it and run away to a remote island. “What’s the matter with me, God?” I whisper. “That calendar is full of good things. So why am I exhausted?”

God used that low point to gently begin showing me the difference between what’s good and what’s truly best in my life. For years, I had misinterpreted a Scripture we all know well: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13 NKJV). When I read those words, this was my translation: I have to do it all through Christ who strengthens me.

Then another phrase by the apostle Paul in the very same book caught my heart one day. Exactly one chapter before the Scripture above, he says, “But this one thing I do” (Phil. 3:13 NRSV). He goes on to share how he is pressing on toward the goal God has for him.

The contrast between those two verses bounced around in my mind for days. Here’s what it means: we are capable of doing all things through Christ, but we are only called to do specifically what he asks of us. Just because something is “good” doesn’t mean it’s his will for your life.

As dreamers and visionaries, we can find this to be even more of a struggle. I realized this one day when some friends gently pointed out a truth I needed to hear. Over dessert at our favorite lunch spot, I shared how weary I felt and how hard it was for me to rest. “I never feel like what I do is enough,” I confessed between bites of chocolate cake.

I will never forget what my wise friend said next. She looked me in the eyes and said, “Holley, you’re a dreamer. You will always be able to think up more than you can actually do. And God doesn’t expect you to do it all.” My other friends around the table nodded in agreement.

They were so right! I felt guilt replaced by peace as I understood that rather than following every idea that came into my mind, I could truly focus on what God asked of me.

That leads to the question: How do we know what God wants us to do? Romans 12:2 NIV offers us three steps: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

First, we are to recognize that God’s ways are different than those of the world around us. We live in a culture that will always drive us to be busy and exhausted. We have to hit the pause button and decide to live differently.

Then we need to identify the lies we’re believing (like I was) and replace them with the truth so that our hearts are free to choose God’s best rather than reacting in fear or guilt.

Finally, we’ve got to “test and approve God’s will.” In other words, we take action, and when we realize we need to change the way we’re living, we do.

You can do all things through Christ, but that doesn't mean saying "yes" to everything. His love will guide you to what's best for you.

Go Deeper

Read Philippians 4:8-13 to see Paul's perspective when he had a lot going on in his life.

God, you made me a dreamer, and that means so many plans and ideas come into my mind. I love to say yes and be part of new adventures. Yet I realize sometimes that can distract me from what’s truly best in my life. I pray you will give me the wisdom, discernment, and self-control I need to focus on your will for my life. Amen.

What’s one truth you want to remember?

What’s the next small step you’ll take?