Opening Prayer: “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.”
Daily Scripture Reading:
- Exodus 20:2
- Matthew 22:37-38
When my daughter was 4 years old I overheard her telling her 3 year old brother that “you have Jesus in your heart, but I have Cinderella in mine.” I looked out from the kitchen and surveyed her dancing around in her well-worn blue ball gown complete with glass (plastic) slippers, elbow length gloves, and a perfect bun on her little head just like every other day. From the TV, Cinderella herself began singing “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” as I promptly decided that I had completely failed at parenting! Even at 4 years old, my daughter knew that having someone or something “in your heart” was serious. She knew it was a place of upmost importance. She knew who or whatever resided there would be worshiped. She had just chosen the wrong god.
In our culture, it becomes really easy to worship a dream. Somewhere between Disney movies, Hallmark sentiments, and shampoo commercials, we have all been convinced that to follow our dreams is our highest calling, responsibility, and right. We are fed a steady diet of “listen to your heart” and “live your purpose,” just like my little girl had been fed a steady diet of princesses. And even when we know who is on the throne of our heart, we can worship the dream rather than being anchored to the Dream Giver.
Joseph’s life is about to take a turn for the crazy. His earthly father’s favor and protection will be stripped as quickly as his “coat of many colors.” We will walk with him on the long, hard road from the dream being given to that dream coming true. Spoiler alert: the reality will look much different than Joseph thought! And if Joseph had worshiped the dream, I imagine he would have lost hope right here in the first chapter of his story. But what we will see is that Joseph worshiped the Dream Giver instead.
Even a God-given dream is not God. And like Joseph, we will find that even a God-given dream might not turn out like we thought. There are no guarantees except that in this life we will have struggles. But when God is in the proper place in our hearts and we are worshiping Him alone, we will be anchored no matter what comes.
Feed yourself a steady diet of Him, rather than Hollywood and Hallmark’s religion of following your dreams. Anchor yourself to the Dream Giver and kick Cinderella out of your heart!
Today’s Big Questions: Is there a dream or a plan that has become an idol in your heart? Are you worshiping the dream or are you anchored to the Dream Giver.
Prayer Response: Confess to the Lord if any dreams or plans for your life have become disordered in your heart. Declare Matthew 22:37 back to Him, “I will love you God with all of my heart and with all of my soul and with all of my mind.”
Optional Action Step: Grab a piece of paper or a journal and draw a representation of the Lord or write GOD in big letters at the top of it. Now below God list plans, promises, or dreams you are believing Him for. Let this be a reminder that those things sit below God in your heart and will not be worshiped.
Closing Prayer: “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurable 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.” – Ephesians 3:20-21