Dreaming Big + Risk Taking

At some point, most of us stop living out of imagination and start living out of memory. Instead of creating the future, we start repeating the past. Instead of living by faith, we live by logic, instead of going after our dreams. Our date of death is not the date etched in our tombstone. The day we stop dreaming is the day we start dying. May you keep dreaming until the day you die. The greatest chapters in history always begin with risk, and the same is true with the chapters of your life. If you don't take the risk, you forfeit the miracle. -Mark Batterson ❤️ 

Warren and I started The Circle Maker, by Mark Batterson for our weekly bible study a few weeks ago, and even though I've been using it as a devotional for years now, whatever topic we're reading for the week always seems to be right on time. This week was all about dreaming big and risk taking -- conversations I had just had that night before getting started. Both require s significant degree of intentionality, but the risk taking part... It requires a whole other level of boldness, courage, and faith.

The dreaming big part comes with a safety net. Its hypothetical at the end of the day.It's the part about actually going after what you want and having faith that God will see it through, that's where the mental block happens for me. God has blown me away year after year after year, and there are still plenty of ideas, hopes, projects, dreams, and so on that simply intimidate me. Faith and vulnerability seem to go hand.

So my comfort in situations where I need to take risks start with letting myself feel the fear. You can try to run from it and try to hide from it, but at some point it fights its way to the surface and you have to deal with it.

The second step, talking to some you love and trust who can speak life into you.

Third, reclaim the dream. Take full ownership of it. Believe in the vision you have for your life and the purpose God is calling you to.

Fourth step, be flexible. Accept the likelihood of curveballs and things unfolding differently than you've imagined (it could even be bigger and better!).

Fifth step, surround yourself with reminders of the dream. That might be sticky notes, a vision board, words of affirmation on the mirror, the list goes on. What matters most is being reminded of the life you want to build. 

Sixth step, pray, pray, pray! God answers prayers. End of story. 

Lastly trust God to see you through. There's no substitute for the peace that comes from knowing you've got a teammate in our Heavenly Father 🙏🏿❤️

Hope this was encouraging to you guys. So much good reading over these last couple of days. Did something in particular speak to you? Feel free to share in the comments below! :-)

Sending all the good vibes your way.

Peace, love, and sunshine, 

Xoxo -Chels