My old friend Noah Webster defines dreaming as "... [contemplating] the possibility of doing something; to have ideas or images in the mind." The mind is the place where our dreams take shape, but the place where they are born is the heart. That which resides in the heart will give rise to our dreams, so it is immensely important that we take care to guard our heart and nurture only those things which bring glory to God and edify (build up) those around us. When our heart is pure before God, He will plant the seed of a dream therein... a dream far beyond anything we can hope for or imagine for ourselves. And once God plants that seed, He will be faithful to bring in the crop in due time. Ephesians 3:20-21 says, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
For those of you who are not familiar with farming or growing things from seed, let me point out a few rules that must be followed if you are to bring in a healthy crop:
1. Prior to putting the seed into the ground, that ground must be tilled. It must be cleared of everything that might interrupt the growth of the seed that is to be planted. Rocks, briars, and weeds must be uprooted as the soil is turned over. In some cases, the soil needs to be strengthened or improved by the addition of minerals it may lack. Fertilizer needs to be incorporated into the soil to prepare it so that it might best support the growth of the seed waiting to be planted there. Tilling the ground takes time and patience and a careful eye to watch for those things that must be removed if a healthy crop is to be the result.
2. Once the seed is planted, it is often necessary to thin the plants that begin to grow early on. Some small shoots will need to be plucked up and transplanted to another location or even cast aside, if they do not appear healthy. Doing this thinning will ensure that those healthy plants left in the ground will have ample room and nourishment to grow to their fullest.
3. Even during the growing season, it may be necessary to add more fertilizer to the soil to continue nourishing the fledgling plants. Of course, water and adequate sunlight are absolutely essential if the crop is ever to be fully realized. And weeding... pulling up those harmful plants that might find their way into the field and choke off the growth of our intended crop... weeding must be done regularly.
We cannot afford to think that tossing a few seeds into unprepared ground and leaving them to fend on their own will ever result in a healthy, abundant harvest. The result of such thinking will be a dead field and an empty stomach.
A dreamer is often referred to as a visionary. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a dreamer and will probably be most remembered by his "I Have a Dream" speech. Some 50 years after planting the seed of his dream for equality among all men, the highest position to be held in our country is now occupied by a man of African American heritage. Whether or not we agree with the President's political stance (and this is not the forum in which to debate that), we cannot argue that the seed planted by Dr. King has taken full root and is yielding a crop of open doors and never before known opportunities to black Americans. King held fast to his dream even to his death, and others are now enjoying the fruits of his labor.
A dream is given to an individual in their heart. It is seldom shared by others and is often not even viewed as realistic or practical. More often than not, the dreamer is thought to be a fool by those who may know him or her best. Family members and friends lack the vision instilled in the heart of the dreamer, so they do not support and encourage its growth. If we make the mistake of listening to the nay-sayers that surround us, the weeds of their pessimism and criticism will surely choke out the fledgling dream which has been planted.
Let me take just a moment here to remind you that no crop (other than mushrooms... a fungus!) grows overnight. A seed is planted and tended carefully over a period of time until it grows to full maturity, but it does take time... and patience... and dedication... and faith that the crop it will yield will be worth all the effort.
Perhaps God has planted a dream seed in your heart. It is probable that those around you do not offer much support to you when you speak of your dream. They may even openly criticize or ridicule your dream as being unrealistic and a waste of time. Friend, no dream planted in the heart of a believer is a waste. God is completely capable of helping you carefully till the soil, remove the obstacles, thin out the particulars of that dream, nourish it with prayer and faith, and celebrate the harvest with you at the appointed time. Don't give up on your dream! Be willing to do whatever is necessary... study, pray, and dedicate yourself to realizing the fullness of it, believing that God will bring it to pass at just the right moment.
Amid overwhelming opposition, Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, "...even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream." There will be difficulties, there will be challenges, there will be opposition, there will be nay-sayers, but we can still have a dream and know that God is faithful to give us "the desires of [our] heart" when we commit our lives to Him fully.
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him."
(Psalm 37:3-7a)
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