Christian Perspectives: what is your passion and dream?

October 1, 2014 · 0 Comments

Jesus understood why He was on this earth. He had a passionate vision and dream and was willing to go after it. He claimed in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Yes, the life Jesus came to establish has an eternal component to it, but I believe it also had a current, in the present moment aspect to it. Since Jesus lived in the present moment, I believe it would be a good thing if we endeavoured to do so also.
So, I ask, what is your passion in life? Are you living it right now? Do you have a vision or mission in life which you are moving towards, or are you getting up each morning and drifting through life every day like the one before? How would you describe your life if you were living it to the full? How would you feel? If you are not living your life to the full, what would you need to change or do to make it happen? What is stopping you? If the hindrances were out of the way, do you believe you could live your passion and dreams? What steps could you take right now to begin to overcome the obstacles or hindrances?
A number of months ago I adapted some material originally written by Napoleon Hill in 1925. I personalized and put his thoughts into a Biblical framework which I found helpful for me. Perhaps it would be helpful for you as well in understanding and pursuing your passion and reason for being in life. It would be a good thing to review these thoughts at least once a day if you want to achieve lasting benefit from them.
Here they are for your consideration:
1. I know, “in Christ,” I have the ability to achieve whatever God calls or directs me to be and do; therefore, I demand of myself persistent, aggressive, and continuous action towards its attainment.
– Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
– Philippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”
2. I realize the dominating thoughts of my mind eventually reproduce themselves in outward, bodily action, and gradually transfer themselves into physical reality. “I get, or I become what I think about most of the time.” Therefore, I commit to focussing on my dream, goal, vision or calling. I create a mental picture in my heart and mind of what it is I am seeking to achieve. I think, pray, breathe and live it into reality. In seeking to be more like
Jesus I follow the example of Jesus in this.
– Proverbs 23:7 “For as I think in my heart, so I am.” (KJV)
– Colossians 3:1-2, “Since, then, I have been raised with Christ, I set my heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. {2} I set my mind on things above, not on earthly things.”
3. I will write down and daily review my dream, goal, vision, or calling seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance, understanding and wisdom related not only to the next step to be taken, but also to the bigger plan God has for my life. I will choose to take action and implement the steps necessary to achieve my objective in love.
– John 16:13, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide me into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell me what is yet to come.”
– Colossians 3:17, “And whatever I do, whether in word or deed, I do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
– Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever I do, I work at it with all my heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, {24} since I know that I will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ I am serving.”
4. I fully realize the achievement of my dream, goal, vision, or calling cannot truly be attained and endure unless my life is built upon truth, justice and love, therefore I will engage in no action that does not benefit all whom it affects. I will look for a “win, win, win” in everything, for everyone, and seek its reality. I know a negative, selfish attitude towards others can never bring true lasting success. I commit to seeking to be more like Jesus in my thinking, in what I chose to believe, and what I say, and the attitudes I express, so God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
– Micah 6:8, “And what does the LORD require of me? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with my God.”
– Philippians 4:8, “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – I think about such things.”
– Romans 10:9-10, “if I confess with my mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead, I will be saved. {10} For it is with my heart that I believe and am justified, and it is with my mouth that I confess and am saved.”
May you make the choice, as Jesus intended for you, to live your life to the full, following your God-given passion.
Rev. Bob McLellan
Grace Church of the Nazarene, Shelburne ONJOY Center of Learning
Resources for Building Lives
www.JOYCenter.on.ca