Lately, I’ve been thinking about dreams. Not the kind of dreams we have when we go to sleep at night, but the kind of dreams residing in our hearts. Do you know what I mean? Those dreams that float in your mind like clouds and frustrate you because they seem out of reach?

The ones that won’t go away, despite your attempts to bring yourself back to earth?

It’s on my mind because somehow – in the glorious mess of life – I think I lost mine. Or maybe I’ve done such a great job at pushing them away, that they just tease me like a playground bully.

So much of our modern culture is centered on dream chasing.

Motivational coaches shout encouragement from pimped out platforms. The other day I heard a commercial for Joel Osteen’s new radio channel. In his spooky whispery voice he said, “If you want to see a miracle, be a miracle.”

Huh?

Actually, that quote as also been attributed to Morgan Freeman in the movie Bruce Almighty and some random English teacher named Steve Juster. But still. What does it mean?

Or how about this one, “You need to associate with people that inspire you, people that challenge you to rise higher, people that make you better. Don’t waste your valuable time with people that are not adding to your growth. Your destiny is too important.” Joel Osteen

As a Christian, am I really supposed to be about making all my dreams come true? Or am I to glorify God through my relationship with Jesus? Is it my “fame” I’m seeking or His?

But then I wonder . . . what if these dreams aren’t solely mine. What if they’re God’s dreams for my life and it’s not a playground bully teasing me, but Him wooing me?

One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 37:4 which says: Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

God’s given me the desires of my heart over and over again – can I really ask for more? How do we tell the difference between the desires of our hearts (the ones he wants to give us) and the dreams of our own making?

Your turn: What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic!