I have been thinking on the Wise Men this week. There are so many details of the Christmas story that are remarkable, but as we move towards the New Year, I am fascinated by these men who went searching for a king only to find a baby. All of their studying, planning and traveling lead them to the most unexpected of places.
The Wise Men were given a promise that they would receive a king and they had a star to guide them. I dare say that had they known they were searching for a baby with a virgin, teen mother, they may not have traveled so willingly! These men moved without knowing all the details. They followed even when they didn't know what was waiting for them.
Annie Downs says that God lets us dream in pieces because the greatness of His plan would overwhelm us. So many times in scripture we find God asking men and women to just do big things. David, Ester, Jonah, Noah, Moses......fight the giant, use your voice, take the trip, build the boat, lead the people. But in each of those cases, He started by asking them to take small steps of faith. When we read their stories, we see small steps of obedience that lead them into these bigger than life moments. Before David fought Goliath, he fought a bear and a lion to protect his sheep. He knew that God had been faithful in those battles and it prepared him for the fight of his life.
In February of 2017, God asked me to take a small step into high school ministry. By May, I knew that I was going to take that brave step. In August, I sat in a room with 15 girls and I was wrecked (in the best possible way). Fast forward to December and I am beginning to dream dreams that would have terrified me in February. God knew I could only handle one piece at a time. I don't know exactly what God is going to do with the passion He has ignited in me. I can't say that there aren't parts of it that still terrify me, but I know that God will be faithful to reveal only as much as I need for today. I will simply take the next brave step!
Is there a dream you are dreaming? A battle you are being prepped for? A picture you can't quite make out? Trust God to know what you need and how much you can handle. Just take the next BRAVE step!
The Wise Men were given a promise that they would receive a king and they had a star to guide them. I dare say that had they known they were searching for a baby with a virgin, teen mother, they may not have traveled so willingly! These men moved without knowing all the details. They followed even when they didn't know what was waiting for them.
Annie Downs says that God lets us dream in pieces because the greatness of His plan would overwhelm us. So many times in scripture we find God asking men and women to just do big things. David, Ester, Jonah, Noah, Moses......fight the giant, use your voice, take the trip, build the boat, lead the people. But in each of those cases, He started by asking them to take small steps of faith. When we read their stories, we see small steps of obedience that lead them into these bigger than life moments. Before David fought Goliath, he fought a bear and a lion to protect his sheep. He knew that God had been faithful in those battles and it prepared him for the fight of his life.
In February of 2017, God asked me to take a small step into high school ministry. By May, I knew that I was going to take that brave step. In August, I sat in a room with 15 girls and I was wrecked (in the best possible way). Fast forward to December and I am beginning to dream dreams that would have terrified me in February. God knew I could only handle one piece at a time. I don't know exactly what God is going to do with the passion He has ignited in me. I can't say that there aren't parts of it that still terrify me, but I know that God will be faithful to reveal only as much as I need for today. I will simply take the next brave step!
Is there a dream you are dreaming? A battle you are being prepped for? A picture you can't quite make out? Trust God to know what you need and how much you can handle. Just take the next BRAVE step!
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