My husband’s 30 year reunion at Rhema Bible Training College in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma is happening this month. I wasn’t a student at the time but have been a student in many other ways as his wife and in our mutual love for the Lord and call to equip believers.

The school invited us to teach the current pastors class this week. As I reflected on where we were as a young couple full of hopes and dreams thirty years ago, the Lord reminded me of the words of Jesus in Matthew 6. I was definitely familiar with these passages but hadn’t considered them in this light before.

Choose wisely

Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (verse 24).

This life principle applies to all of us, but in light of speaking into the lives of newly equipped students with dreams and aspirations, it took on a whole new emphasis. No matter what God has called us to do in this life, this truth remains: we cannot serve both God and money, so decide now.

It doesn’t say that the person who loves and desires to serve God won’t have any money. It’s a strong reminder to choose who your master will be. Other words for master include ruler, teacher, boss. So the question we have to ask ourselves is, do I want the Lord (the God of all creation) to be my teacher? Or do I want the dollar bill to control my life?

I’m obviously leading you with that question– but it’s good to check our heart. Dreams are free but their fulfillment isn’t so be careful to never let the quest to fulfill the vision overrun the One who gave it to you.

Don’t worry

Jesus continued: “Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?

Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you—you of little faith? 

So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

I love that Jesus knows our heart (and the temptations we face) better than we do sometimes. He pointblank called out where we get off-course: worry about the future and unknown.

Isn’t it interesting that when we’re dreaming, the sky is the limit. But when we’re in the fulfillment phase of our dream, we stop looking at the sky, tempted to look elsewhere. Don’t do that. Your Father in heaven (the Giver of the dream) knows exactly what you need — including all the character and trust building lessons that will help you keep the dream strong when you reach it.

Look up

Over the past 30 years, we have had many ups and downs and there were many times we didn’t know how we were going to make it. But looking back, it’s so obvious God was stretching, growing, and establishing us in faith. And I’m so glad He did.

Colossians 3:2-3 says, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” I love this and remember it often. In the previous passage, Jesus pointed out two things that help us keep our sights on things above. Number one, watch your words, and number two, don’t let your faith be short-lived.

This phrase “you of little faith” isn’t talking about size as much as it’s talking about length. Many people start strong in faith and then it wains. And (like Peter) they sink instead of continuing to walk on the water towards the dream.

Jesus also said, “So don’t worry, saying…” and then He lists possible fears and doubts that could hinder our forward-motion. The key here is to pay attention to what you’re saying because out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. In other words, if your heart is worried, your words will speak it… and sadly, entrap you and pull your mind off the dream and out of faith.

The bottom line is trust what God has shown you.

Keep in step with Him as He leads and guides the dream He’s placed in your heart. He’s the only One that can truly fulfill it– and if you’ll seek Him and do things His way, He will bring it to pass.