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

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:

• I Corinthians 12:7-11
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17
• Romans 1:19-20
• Job 33:14
• Mark 4:24

Have you ever declined an unfamiliar caller on your phone just to have the same number call you right back? It’s easy to ignore it the first time, but the second time makes me question. “Is it something important? Is it urgent? They must really need to speak to me!” When they call back, I pay attention.

We read that God gave Joseph two different dreams, on two different nights that pointed to the same destiny. We know that Joseph took notice after the first dream because he told his brothers about it, but I’m sure after the second one he was really paying attention.

This tells us a couple of powerful truths about our Heavenly Father’s character. First, He speaks. He speaks to us. He is our Creator God and He speaks in all kinds of creative ways. Earlier this week we read in Job that He will still speak through dreams and visions. Today we read that He speaks through the gifts of prophecy and words of knowledge. We also read that all Scripture is God breathed so He speaks through the Bible. In Romans we read that He makes Himself known to us through creation. He can also speak through our circumstances and He is constantly speaking to His children through His indwelling Holy Spirit. God speaks. It’s one of my favorite things about Him.

God giving Joseph two dreams also teaches us that He wants us to “get it.” He is not trying to hide His plans for your life from you. We read earlier this week in Jeremiah that we can find Him when we seek Him with all our hearts. His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), and His agenda usually looks different than ours but He isn’t trying to trick us. I’m sure you have had seasons where God repeats a theme or truth to you over and over in several different ways. The verse you read during your personal time in the Word is the very Scripture that is preached about on Sunday morning! Then, the same subject comes up in conversation with a friend, in a book you are reading, and a podcast you are listening to! Today we read in Job that God speaks “now in one way, now another.” And in Mark He tells us to “consider carefully what you hear” in the NIV and to “pay close attention” in the NLT.

God speaks and He wants us to pay attention. Just like He gave Joseph two dreams, He will speak to us again and again of who He is and who we are.

Today’s Big Questions: What has God been saying to you lately? How has He been speaking to you? Do you usually hear from Him through creation, through His Word, through others, in prayer and communion with the Holy Spirit, in dreams and visions? Are you paying attention?

Prayer Response: Today get quiet before the Lord and position yourself to listen carefully to what you hear. Repeat Samuel’s simple prayer from 1 Samuel 3:10, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Optional Action Step: Take a walk and really pay attention to what God may be saying to you. Look around ask for revelation through creation. Notice any thoughts or Scriptures that come to mind.

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

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:

• Genesis 37:5-11
• Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
• Proverbs 27:17
• Proverbs 13:20
• Romans 12:18

Yesterday we speculated about young Joseph’s motives for sharing his dreams with his brothers and father. We wondered together if maybe he was a little puffed up, thinking about the glory of being bowed down to. We don’t know for sure what was in his heart, but we do know that the decision to share those dreams with his hateful brothers was not wise. We read in Genesis 37:4 “When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.” And that was pre-dream! Obviously sharing dreams in which their bundles bowed to his, and 11 stars bowed to him did little to curb the family tension. Verse 8 says, “they hated him all the more because of his dream.”

The world will hate God’s dream in you too.

When God gives you a dream, who do you share it with? When you are wondering if a possible path is from God, who do you process it with? Most of the time dreams come in tiny, fragile whispers and someone else’s doubt or jealousy can squash them quickly.

God may call us to keep a dream silently in our heart for a season to protect it, but eventually we need the wisdom of trusted voices on our journey. We need people who love us and are invested in God’s story in our lives to treasure that dream with us, to help us with our blind spots, to pray with us, and eventually to celebrate our dreams as if they were their own.

Today’s Scriptures are all about the power and importance of having wise friends and counsel in our lives to sharpen us and keep us safe. We need them to help us up when we fall and when we fail. We need them to rejoice with us when a dream is fulfilled and mourn with us when a dream dies. We need to know that they walk closely with Jesus and are renewed with His Word so that they can help us see things through His eyes.

Do you have a few of these “Dream Treasurers” in your life? Do you have a few trusted confidants who you know are safe and will point you to Jesus? Also, are you safe for others to share their dreams with, or do you tend to be a “Dream Squasher?” Do you celebrate God’s hand moving in other’s lives well, or like the brothers, are you dangerous in your bitterness and jealously?

God’s dreams in us are something to steward with the upmost care. Be aware if you are sharing them with “treasures” or “squashers.”

Today’s Big Questions: Do you have a few “Dream Treasurers” in your life? Honestly think about if you are a “Dream Treasurer” for others, or if you are a “Dream Squasher.” If you are a “Squasher,” spend some time thinking about why that is your tendency.

Prayer Response: If you have godly, wise people to share your dreams with thank God for them. If you don’t, ask God to send some “Dream Treasurers” to you. Then, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any places in your heart that keep you from celebrating God’s dreams in others. Confess them and ask for His forgiveness for being a “Dream Squasher.”

Optional Action Step: List the top 3 “Dream Treasures” in your life and take a moment to send them a text or write them a note to tell them you appreciate their wise voice in your life.

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