"I have always been a dreamer, in all sorts of the word. But I used to think that going after my dreams was a bad thing. So I would wait, and wait, and wait until I felt like God "opened a door" for me.
I felt like if I went after my dreams, I was pushing too hard or trying to MAKE things happen that God didn't want to happen.
Growing up, from the time I was about thirteen, my dream has been to go to Cambodia and work with anti-trafficking organizations. This is one of those dreams that I prayed over for years. I used to wake up and cry over it in the night. This was my deepest dream. So as usual, I waited, and waited some more.
Until one day...
I was flying home from the Dominican Republic with the rest of our iShine Team (through a hurricane! might I add...), so I was listening to some Kari Jobe, and praying again over my dream of going to Cambodia. That's when I heard as plain as day, "Stop making it so complicated, and go."
How much more simple could it be?
So many times in life we wait around for our dreams to just happen, when God has given us the dream to go after it in the first place!
Once I finally got that idea through my head, I went for it. I booked the first trip to Cambodia that I could find. And everything fell beautifully into place.
Dreams are beautiful things that you should go after!
Dreams are sometimes one of the most important things to our hearts, which is why we protect them, and why I personally would wait, and wait...... and wait. I didn't want to mess it up.
But if we are living every day in the power of Christ, if we are waking up and dedicating each day to HIS glory, how can we have dreams that are different than His? JUST GO FOR IT!
I know that I was always waiting for clarity, something more, another sign, confermation, etc...
when God just wants me to have faith and obey Him. "
What are your dreams? And what holds you back from them?
Just Go...
~Alexis Slifer ~
Check out our full interview with Alexis @ www.crownofbeautymagazine.com
I've been singing this adorable little song for weeks.
Can you guess what movie this tune is from?
"Love is an open dooooorrrrrrr..."
If you guessed Disney's Frozen, you're correct!
Not only is this melody cute and catchy, but the words are powerful. "Love is an open door."
In the film, Anna is so relieved to find attention after facing so much rejection in her life, "My whole life has been a series of doors, being slamed in my face."
As dreamers, we can often feel like opportunities or "open doors" only come every so often, and each doorway we've tried to enter has been shut.
Jesus said, "I am the Door." [John 10:9] Unlike Anna's selfish "prince" in the film, God's love is never slammed shut in our faces. We are never rejected when we come to Him.
He is the Way, the Truth and the Light!
So often we spend our lives looking for "open doors" of opportunies, relationships, love or the next big promotion. But if we are in Christ, we don't need to worry about those things.
Galatians 6:7-10 says:
"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
Don't be decieved with discouragement. If the Lord has placed a dream inside of your heart, and you surrender it to Him, are faithful in the little things, and take the action steps that are necessary on your part...doors will open in His perfect timing to bring about the fullness of what is in you.
Continue sowing in the Word, in prayer, in patience, and perseverance, and you WILL reap a harvest of opprtunity if you don't lose heart.
And really, what is opprotunity? What is an open door?
Simply the chance to use the gift He's given you to do GOOD, and encourage those around you! If we want "doors" to open for us so that we can experience worldly sucess, fame, money, or attention...it's time to reavaluate and think about what doors we've been knocking on!
Christ's LOVE is the only open door we will ever need. We have favor like Queen Esther did...His blessing will follow us!
Jesus IS the Door, and like the absolute Gentleman that He is, He LOVES opening doors for His girls, so we can express His goodness and love to this world! We can rest in this truth. HE will open the doors to do good when He sees fit. And until then...use the doors that are already flung open. Be faithful with the little you have right now. Rest and rejoice in the ultimate open door of Christ's love!