“May heaven describe you as one of those rare people who live to achieve Great Things for the glory of God.”
That’s the closing sentence of Bruce Wilkinson’s The Dream Giver. Read it again slowly.
“May heaven describe you as one of those RARE people who live to achieve Great Things for the glory of God.”
It truly IS a rare thing, isn’t it?
To know someone — ANYone — who is unquestionably living their Dream, achieving tremendous success in this life, and radiating Christlike-ness every step of the way.
That’s my life’s mission: To qualify as that rare breed, and to help others qualify as well.
A while ago, I heard the brilliant Ken Glickman paint the following picture of life…
Think of each day as a new page in the book of your life. Every single day, you’re choosing the characters, the locations, the events.
You’re the author of your book, and at the end of your life the book closes.
Now, the question is: what type of story are you writing?
The reality is that some people are writing a comedy, many are writing a tragedy, and a rare few are writing tremendous stories of success and achievement.
So I ask you… what type of story are you authoring as we speak? Is it a story that you’ll be proud of and others will find tremendously meaningful when you’re gone?
I hope so.
If not — and sadly, chances are that you’re not — I recommend picking up The Dream Giver.
To me, it resonates as a story that nearly every Dream-achieving believer can attest to 100%.
It’s the story of a guy named Ordinary, a “Nobody” who leaves the land of Familiar to pursue his Big Dream. We follow Ordinary on his journey through Comfort Zone, BorderLand, Wasteland, Sanctuary, the Valley of Giants, and — at long last — the Land of Promise.
It identifies the pattern that’s true in Exodus, that’s repeated throughout the Bible, and that’s evident time & again today whenever God’s people reach for their Dream & achieve great things for Him.
In almost EVERY instance, they:
1. Become aware of a personal Dream or calling, then decide to pursue it
The Dream Giver (God) gives every “nobody” a Dream — you included.
Only some embrace it. VERY few pursue it.
If you don’t know what your Dream is, start looking at what you do best and what you most love to do. You’ll find it somewhere in line with that.
WARNING: Pursuing this Dream will involve leaving your hometown of Familiar. Wussies beware.
2. Face fear as they leave a place of comfort
Your Comfort Zone is your security blanket of routines, relationships, & acceptable behavior. Your Big Dream is NEVER here.
It’s hard & risky to leave your Comfort Zone, but it’s even harder & riskier to leave behind your Dream.
Doubting your Dream or procrastinating because of fear is BS. Take courage.
Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s choosing to act in spite of fear.
3. Encounter opposition from those around them
Before you leave your comfort zone for good, Bullies will try to stop you. These Bullies will often be friends & family who think you’re a kook for setting out to achieve your Dream.
Bullies always fall into 4 categories:
- The Alarmist (”your dream isn’t safe”)
- The Traditionalist (”your dream isn’t the way we do things around here”)
- The Defeatest (”your dream is impossible”)
- The Antagonist (”I won’t LET you pursue your dream”)
The Bullies may have some valuable insights, but ultimately it comes down to who you’re going to please: the Bullies or the Dream Giver.
4. Endure a season of difficulty that tests their faith
After crossing the bridge and leaving your Comfort Zone & it’s Bullies behind, most people expect to find their Dream awaiting.
But what nearly everyone finds is the all-to-familiar Wasteland. This is the land where you think “what the heck was I thinking??”
It leads to doubt & disappointment and most people — if they make it this far — make a U-turn here.
But the goal of the Wasteland — and what those who persevere find — is trust & faith.
5. Learn the importance of surrender & consecration to God
This is Sanctuary. Where you swim in the tranquil pool of blessing, having achieved your Dream… or so you think. 
This is often the point where God asks you to put your dream right back into his hands. Will you do it?
6. Fight the Giants that stand between them and the fulfillment of their Dream
You WILL face Giants.
Major, major obstacles called “moneyless”, “corruption”, or “rejection”, etc. In fact, Giants often come in 5 species:
- A lack of resources (power, finances, connections, education, opportunity)
- An immovable system (a political or legal web of entanglement)
- An opposing group or individual
- An intimidating circumstance (a situation beyond your control)
- A crushing physical or spiritual burden (illness, physical challenge, addiction)
Like David, don’t run from Giants. Go TOWARD every Giant that’s between you & your Dream.
I’ve found that attacking Giants starts with affirming what you know to be true. This makes Giants shrink & faith grow.
I now affirm DAILY my identity in Christ.
Click the icon on the right to download the list of affirmations that hangs on my refrigerator –>
7. Reach their full potential as they truly achieve their Dream and bring honor to God
This Land of Promise may not necessarily be what you initially imagined your Dream to be!
Hint: It’s probably not laying on a tropical beach sipping your pink beverage of choice.
I’ve found that the cool thing about Step 7 is that once you get there, God has something even bigger & better for you. So you start the process over. In a new Land of Familiar, with new Bullies, bigger Giants, and even bigger rewards.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As I read The Dream Giver, I recognized that this is actually my 2nd journey through the pattern above. And I’m somewhere between Step 5 & Step 6 on my current trip.
If you’ve yet to set out on your first, PLEASE do it right now. Take courage, face the bullies, bust through the invisible wall of fear, slay the giants, and experience God’s reward.
A lot of people believe that present circumstances make their Dream seem out of the question. But nearly always, the truth is something else.
Most people who are stuck need to rethink their priorities (mainly surrounding how time & money are spent).
SOMETHING can be done to make a beginning possible. There’s always a price - at least one sacrifice & usually several - but there’s nothing like the reward of KNOWING you’re living your Dream.
The bottom line questions are these:
Are you just marking time - or are you making a life?
Are you creating your life, or are you letting your life create you?
The way of the Dreamer is difficult - but anything less is hardly living at all. Stay encouraged & chase your dream with every fiber of your being.
“May heaven describe you as one of those rare people who live to achieve Great Things for the glory of God.”
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Posted in Books, Life | Comments (12)
Posted on March 23rd, 2009
Great post bro! I needed this, this morning. Have a great week.
Posted on March 23rd, 2009
WOW! Excellent, my friend. You write well. But even better…YOU THINK WELL.
Your words resonate with me. How easy it is to live a life pacified and numbed by the comforts we surround ourselves with.
But “greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city” …and God’s calling us to step outside of our comfort zones and meet him there.
Thanks for a great close to my evening.
…jp
Posted on March 24th, 2009
Thanks so much for this hopeful and helpful post. You truly have great insight and a great spirit. Thanks for sharing yourself with us.
Tony
Posted on March 24th, 2009
Inspiring blog, I aplaude you for your mission.
I am joining you on the crusade because it is my hearts desire to end my book with our Father saying
good and faithful servant you have achieved great things for the glory of me.
BB
Posted on March 24th, 2009
Loved it!!! Thank you for sharing!
Posted on March 24th, 2009
Great I needed this. You are like the “One crying in the wilderness”. Thanks again
Posted on March 24th, 2009
yo- great stuff Proper. thanks for being a light in this world and keeping things on the positive tip.
you hit it on the head about the life of a dreamer is not easy but there’s no other way to go.
I as well am on my second go around and am battling with giants as we speak. so, the timing of this post could not have been better…keep being awesome bro-
dd
Posted on March 24th, 2009
Hey Andy,
Just wanted to say thanks so much for this. I’ve been hanging out in the Wasteland a little too long and this was just what I needed. Thanks for the insight!!
Posted on March 24th, 2009
Thanks so much for the inspiring words. I have lived the life of knowing my dream but have let my life work me not me working my life. I will start again with more vigor and determination and with God’s help will realize my dream.
Posted on March 24th, 2009
Andy,
Excellent thoughts bro. I often wonder if my dreams are God’s or just my selfish desires. I think I manipulate God’s direction in my life by blurring the lines between prosperity teachings compared to a biblical one. I often feel like a failure spiritually when I hurt the heart of God from my stupid worldly desires. - For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36 That resonates in me. I am beginning to see how God cares more about me seeking HIM first and taking care of what He allows me to reap, instead of mainly focusing on the harvest. I find myself very easily being enticed to sacrifice a life of serving God for a life of serving the world. It’s a daily battle that fights each Christian, especially when you have an opportunity to really become rich and famous. I pray God is my number one focus and if riches come or a life of poverty I have the humble attitude of “God giveth and God taketh away”. I think pride is the biggest dream stealer of us all. Thanks for writing this post bro. It’s great to see all the perspectives that come from it.
Posted on April 2nd, 2009
Great post!! However, no mention of death or bunkruptcy. Sometimes we try to achieve our dreams at great odds or risk and therefore, sometimes at great consequences. But regardless of what happens one should still go for the dream. I don’t know, but every once in a blue moon someone touches on that but not enough I as I’ve wished. Do you know who they are? Yeah, the super duper crazy rich or successful in another sense guy who did the impossible. Some of the dudes (or chicks) almost died or taken out. Actually, if you think about it, a lot died. But no one wants to talk about it. Andy or someone else out there, talk about it.
Posted on September 7th, 2009
Hey Andy,
Thank you for revealing your devotion and joy in Jesus Christ. Though I have a deep passion for Jesus, I am inspired that you are so transparent and in all honesty wanting God to be glorified. You are a real-life example of how God can and should be glorified through business– because He consumes every part of our lives. Be assured Andy that His richest blessings are upon you!
Blake Templeton