Dwight Fletcher | Yes, I Can Dream Again - Part II

Last week, we looked at the first part of 'Yes, I Can Dream Again'. We talked about God dreams - that they are specific to each person, they are bigger than us, and that they can separate us from others. We said that sometimes the circumstances of life can cause us to doubt that our dreams will ever come to pass, but that God who gives the dream, is the One who brings them to pass. And we considered the Israelites who, in 1 Samuel 13, were in a place of despair, ready to settle because of the seemingly overwhelming odds against the dream God had given to them.

Sometimes, life can throw overwhelming-looking odds at us that cause us to panic and fear we will accomplish our dreams. So, today, we continue the discussion on reclaiming our dreams and look at a few keys to accomplishing these dreams.

These keys are:

 

Overcome Your Paralysis

 

1. To get back on track with your dream, the first thing you will have to do is decide to break your inertia and start moving again. At any cost, you must pick yourself up and decide to start moving again. "One day, Jonathan said to his armour bearer, "Come on, let's go over to where the Philistines have their outpost." 1 Samuel 14:1 NLT. To do this, you will have to overcome self-doubt - the voice that gives the list of reasons why you're 'not good enough' - and fear.

 

Be in the right company

 

2."Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV. Who you are around can have a serious impact on what you do. We have to be mindful of negativity from others. When we listen to this malicious chatter, it prevents us from moving forward and it takes focus off of God. Choose to listen to God's voice over the voices of others. You have control over what you allow into your thoughts and mind and what you choose to believe.

 

Commit Your Plans to the Lord

 

3. "Let's go across to the outpost of those pagans," Jonathan said to his armour bearer. "Perhaps, the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!" If we just stay in that little comfort zone, we don't need God's supernatural power. We need to step out and chase our dreams and follow after the things of God.

 

Refuse to be denied

 

4. We have to press forward with determination irrespective of the odds. How determined are you to hold on to what God has said? "Jonathan said, 'Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us. If they say to us, 'Wait there until we come to you,' we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, 'Come up to us,' we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands'."

1 Samuel 14:8-10 NLT. We need to be determined. We need to never give up.

 

What were the results?

 

The Philistines called them up, so "Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armour-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armour-bearer followed and killed behind him. 14 In that first attack, Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some 20 men in an area of about half an acre." 1 Samuel 14:13-14 NLT

That little victory set in motion a bigger victory. God backs us up when we step forward in him.

"Then panic struck the whole army - those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties - and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God." 1 Samuel 14:15 NLT

In short, this account shows us how God used two men to inspire the nation of Israel, which only had two swords and was up against an enemy that was armed with the best artillery of the day. He demonstrated, through the account of Johnathan, that determined faith in God is able to save a nation. What is your dream and what stands in the way of you accomplishing it? I encourage you to step out and watch God work it out. Say to your dream - Yes, I can!