Today's post was inspired by a conversation I had with a friend. We were sharing struggles that we are currently facing. I hung up the phone - I felt refreshed, hopeful, and felt prompted to write about it. So here goes...
A hundred things spoke directly to me in this book, but the first was: "we should praise God for disappointment because it drives us to our knees." This reminded me that I need to rely on him for everything. When things are good it's easy to forget this. We start to take care of things on our own. But you know the vicious cycle as well as I do - we get burnt out, stressed out, and are overwhelmed. Then what?
A game changer for me was the following line: "stop praying and start praising Him for what He was about to do." Now this is one line taken from a long story, I don't want to imply stop praying, that's not the answer. The point I want to emphasize is praise God before He answers your prayers. Praise Him for what He is going to do. I love that. I have started doing that. And let me tell you, you will have peace that surpasses all understanding.
"There is nothing God loves more than keeping promises, answering prayers, performing miracles, and fulfilling dreams. That is who He is. That is what He does." Wow. What an awesome God we serve.
I love The Message version of Ephesians 3:20 -
God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!
That brings us to a topic I am very passionate about, Dreaming BIG.
I love positive, encouraging quotes. I always have. I have scrapbooks I made in my early teens that are full of famous quotes. Today I surround myself with them. I have scripture hanging on our fridge, quotes written on sticky notes attached to my computer, encouraging notes from friends in my bedroom. These are reminders for me "If God is for us, who can be against us?" -Romans 8:31
It is really hard for me to narrow down my favorite Circle Maker lines, so here are a few for you ponder.
"Drawing prayer circles isn't about proving yourself to God; it's about giving God an opportunity to prove Himself to you. Just in case you have forgotten - and to ensure that you always remember - God is for you."
"a big dream is a dream that is bigger than you. In other words, it's beyond your human ability to accomplish."
"if you keep trying, you are not failing. The only way you can fail is if you quit trying."
"I have no idea what the future holds, but I know who holds the future."
In the last chapter the author shares his "Life Goal List". "Your life goal list will include goals that are big and small. It will include goals that are short-term and long-term. But I have one piece of advise: Make sure you have a few BHAGs on the list. You need some God-sized goals that qualify as crazy. Here's why: big goals turn us into big people."
My favorite definition of crazy is: intensely enthusiastic; passionately excited.
That is how I want to live my life. I pray that God will give me dreams this year that are crazier than the year before.
I write all of this from Utah. Well done God. Well done.
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Obviously I would highly recommend reading the book or at least watching the video online.
Also, Mosaic Church recently did a series on The Circle Maker. Watch online here.
Under "Series" look for The Circle Maker. Watch "Shameless Audacity" first :)
What are you dreaming for this year? I would love to hear your story. StephanieHuxter@gmail.com
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