Soaring Into Your Dreams

Written by Mac Hammond   

Have you ever seen an eagle that never bothered to learn to fly? Have you ever had to stop your car to allow an eagle to walk across the road in front of you? Probably not. 

Eagles are born with an innate desire to fly. Their drive to soar to dizzying heights and glide on currents of wind is placed within them by their Creator. 

In a sense, we're like that. God plants within every believer, a dream a lofty vision or goal that would send us soaring to heights of achievement. But for many, that dream remains just that a dream. That soaring vision seems utterly out of reach. 

For some, it's a dream for a business or an idea for a new invention. For others, it's a dream for ministry. Still others cherish dreams that center around family or relationships. 

Your Heavenly Cheering Squad

by Rick Warren

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1 NLT)

Home field advantage can mean everything in sports. Teams who are at home often have a far better record than those on the road. When a team has someone cheering them on, they can often outplay their ability.

The Bible says that you, too, have an audience cheering you on. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” (NLT).

Nothing you do is private. You have an audience. Heaven is watching. But, more importantly, you have a cheering section. The Bible says that everyone in Heaven is cheering you on.

You probably realize that God knows everything. The Bible says “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth” (2 Chronicles 16:9 KJV). The Lord doesn’t miss a thing. He knows your ups and your downs — your everything. He knows every thought you have.

Obey God by Using Your Brain

Tom Holladay

“When Joseph heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth.” (Matthew 2:22-23a NIV)

A lot of people think living an obedient life of faith means putting your mind in neutral and letting God direct you wherever he wants, as if you are a robot. That’s not it at all.

The Bible says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” (Luke 10:27a NIV). You’ve got to engage your brain with God and live out the kind of life he has for you to live.

This is what Joseph did when he obeyed God’s command to move back to Israel. Joseph heard that Herod’s son was reigning in Judea, so he was afraid to go there. “Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth” (Matthew 2:23 NIV).