Opening The Door To Your DreamIhe Atụ

What you need in order to open the door to your dream is a dream key. It’s the key that only YOU can use to unlock the door you must pass through in pursuing your dream. Unfortunately, too many people wind up using a whole other key altogether when they stand staring at that door. And maybe you have too. 

It’s when you take that frustrating and fearful dream and lock it away instead – out of your thoughts altogether. You try your absolute best to never even think about that dream again. The further it is from your thoughts and the deeper it is in the recesses of your mind, the better! In fact, you stick it in a cage, cover it with a black cloth and put locks all over it. Then, you construct a room around that locked up and covered up cage as well, reminding yourself that only fear (and even perhaps terror) exist in that room! You may even hear some roars of wild animals once you turn and walk away from these thoughts. That’ll keep your dream safe and snug where it your fears feel it should be, causing no threat to the comfort and security you have come to enjoy. 

Yet this truth remains:

Your dream lies beyond the comfort of what we call a person’s “comfort zone.”

The formal definition of a “comfort zone” is the level at which one functions with ease and familiarity. That’s according to Webster’s Dictionary. To flesh that out, it means those places, thoughts and even people that do not cause you any anxiety. It is where the risks of both scarcity and vulnerability do not exist, or if they do exist, barely do so. And if none of that is hitting home in your understanding of this coveted zone … it’s where you (or I) feel we have the most “control.” 

The further away we move from these mindsets and positions in our lives, the more unsettled we will feel. The more unsettled that we feel … typically produces a reaction to return (as much as we can) to our “comfort zone” once again. But when you choose you are willing to say good-bye to your "comfort zone," that's when you can use the key to unlock your dream. Not until then. 

Which is why I want to encourage you to personally reflect on your process of letting go of your comfort zone so that you can live out the purpose God has for you.

Personal Reflection

1. Take a moment to write down what are some of the most prominent fears or negating thoughts you have concerning your dream (or what you may feel are things that could be reflective of your dream)? Go ahead and spend as much time as you need writing down everything, even if it seems miniscule to you. 

2. Once you’ve completed writing it down, take a moment to say this verse and commit it to memory: 

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me,” (Philippians 4:13, NASB).

3. Now ask God to give you His viewpoint on each of these things, not yours. Ask Him to open up your eyes to see things from His perspective. Also ask Him to increase your faith, courage and willingness to trust Him in all things. 

4. Read 2 Kings 6:15-17 and answer/reflect on the following questions: 

• What was the servant of Elisha afraid of?

• Based on the context of what is happening in the narrative, is that a seemingly legitimate thing to fear? Explain why or why not?

• What did Elisha know/see that his servant did not?

• What did Elisha do in order to help calm his servant’s fears?

• What did God do in response to Elisha’s prayer?

• Do you believe the Lord can give you His perspective on the things you listed earlier that you are anxious about concerning the dreams He has placed in your heart? 

• Do you believe that God has all that is necessary to fully carry out the dreams He has planted as a seed within you, and created you to fulfill? 

• If you answered yes to the previous question, in what way can you demonstrate that belief in your everyday life and the choices you make/thoughts you allow yourself to think?

We hope this Plan encouraged you. Connect with Bruce Wilkinson and Heather Hair in their helpful book "Prayers of Blessing Over Your Marriage" by clicking this link.