“Pulling the Impossible into Reality”
Dear writer, I hope you had a beautiful week and took some time to begin creating a dedicated writing space! Now that we’ve explored your rhythms and environment, we’re going to revisit the topic of goal setting.
Last time, we shared the importance of breaking your dreams into bite-sized pieces. But before we can break our dreams into achievable steps, some of us need to give ourselves the permission to dream big dreams in the first place.
You see, writer, the very first step of goal setting is to begin—by faith—to see the big dream God has for our lives and to imagine what our deepest God-given desires would look like when they’re fulfilled. Then, the next step is to pull that dream into reality…by putting a deadline on it. For some, that step can seem intimidating. Especially if our dream is much bigger than we are! But here’s the deal: our dreams will rarely come to fruition if we don’t take that courageous first step and aim for the impossible.
But before we dive into our dreams and goals, let’s take a look at some others who courageously grabbed hold of their dreams to see the impossible become reality…
Goals in History
Henry Ford is a great example of a man who turned his dream into an audacious goal and then into reality. Captivated by a love of automobiles, Ford had a huge dream to make the automobile—a luxury only the wealthy could afford—available to the everyday American. Though Ford began his adult career at Edison’s Illumination Company, Ford immediately began working on prototypes for a horseless carriage in his spare time. When Ford showed his ideas to Edison’s executive team, Edison encouraged him to keep improving his model. By age 45, Henry Ford had perfected the Model T—the first affordable American car—which transformed not just the lives of average Americans, but the role of manufacturing itself.
You see, writer, sometimes our dream seems so big it can feel daunting to start moving toward it. Often we may be tempted to wait until “someday” when we have more money, time, education, etc. But here’s the real deal: every impossible journey is made up of very small steps. But we have to say “yes” to our dream before we can begin taking those steps to bring our dream into the realm of reality.
Goals in the Bible
Jonathan is another good example of a man who was unafraid to pursue a big dream. Jonathan dreamed of seeing the nation of Israel free from Philistine oppression. Though Israel had experienced oppression for decades, Jonathan had a bold expectation that Israel could overcome the mighty armies of the Philistines by the power of God. One day, as Jonathan and his armor bearer were scouting, Jonathan boldly put this dream into action as he came upon a Philistine outpost. Submitting his plans to the Lord, Jonathan told his armor bearer his intention to storm the outpost if the Lord gave the sign through a particular Philistine reply. When they hailed the enemy soldiers and heard the confirming taunt, Jonathan and his armor bearer boldly leapt forward and slaughtered the entire contingent.
You see, writer, sometimes like Jonathan we need to be willing—even as we are submitting our plans to the Lord for guidance—to make bold steps forward. Because here’s the thing: sometimes we may not receive clear direction until we begin to move wholeheartedly forward. After all, it can be difficult for God to order the steps we are not taking!
Goals in Life
When I set a goal to write my first novel, I frankly had no idea just how big that goal would be. But when National Novel Writing Month caught my eye, I resolved to make my big dream a reality by attempting to write my novel in the month of November. Though the novel took nine months to finish, my faith to move wholeheartedly forward set me on a path to write, edit, and publish two large books in a span of just three years.
Goals in Your Life
You see, writer, sometimes we don’t move forward on a dream because we don’t know enough to set a “good” or realistic goal. But here’s the thing. The process of goal setting is also a process of growth and learning. And there is nothing wrong with missing or failing to meet a goal, because every goal we pursue will move us forward and add to our wisdom as we set our next goal. More than that, every time we prayerfully and trustingly move forward with the Lord, we create space for Him to speak into the journey.
If you’ll notice, I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I began writing. But when I put feet to my faith, God met me and began to guide me along the way. And He will do the same for you, too. Let me prove it to you…
- Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. – Proverbs 16:3
- Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6
- Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished. – 1 Chronicles 28:20
- By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. – Hebrews 11:8-10
- Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. – Hebrews 11:1
You see, writer, moving toward our God-given dream is really about learning to participate with our King in the act of co-creation, reflecting His image as you begin trusting Him for what is yet unseen by moving forward with confidence toward all He has promised. And as we courageously move forward in trust and reliance on Him to meet our God-sized goals, He will meet our faith and order our steps, just as He did for Abraham.
Where to Start with Goals
So are you ready to grab hold of your God-given dream? Here are some ideas to get you started…
- Dream. Start by giving yourself permission to dream. To really imagine and fully explore the vision God’s placed on your heart. Is that dream big? Don’t let it scare you! God is honored and glorified most by the goals that we absolutely cannot hope to accomplish without His supernatural help! It’s important in this step to let your imagination be free. Don’t worry about “how.” Just imagine the “what’s” and “why’s.” Write down what you imagine.
- Set a Deadline. Once you have a clear picture of your dream in mind, set a date you intend to achieve it by. This is the point where our faith becomes active. It’s the point where we willingly pull our dream from the theoretical into reality. Setting a deadline is critical and creates motivation and forward momentum.
- Break Your Goal into Steps. Once you’ve set your deadline, work backwards and outline key steps you’ll need to take to achieve that goal. Put them in order and set a fresh date to complete step one. Once that step is finished, put a deadline on step two!
- Stay Focused. Once you written out your goal, your deadline, and a tentative timeline put it somewhere you can see it. Once a week, review your progress toward your goal and identify any obstacles and ways you can improve. Make sure to celebrate your victories! Consider adding an inspiring photo or a “pre-enactment” picture of you of you holding your book is a great way to keep the dream and goal fresh in your mind and heart. Because here’s the final thought…
If goal setting is about learning to walk by faith into our unseen future—it’s really about learning to live as children of God made in His image and likeness. It’s about learning to bring beauty and goodness and truth where all was empty and void. It’s about allowing Him to stretch us so that our lives can hold a glory that could only come from Him. And here’s the amazing thing. As we begin to walk toward and speak into and build up the unseen future God has for us, it begins to build the future of others, too.
Just like Ford’s courage to dream an audacious dream change the landscape of American life and transportation. Just like Jonathan’s courage to trust God’s power for victory not only help him win that victory but also opened his eyes to recognize and embrace God’s power in His chosen warrior when Jonathan met David. Just like my pursuit of my big dream not only opened the doors for my book, but has now opened the same door for others, too!
So I encourage you today, writer, to take courage and dream the God-sized dream He has given you.
Then, begin pulling that dream by faith into really as you make goals and dare to put deadlines on the unseen! Though it may feel like a large step, and though it will be a process, this is the space where God meet us as we rely on Him and His strength to show His glory in ways exceedingly beyond all we could ever have asked or imagined.
#glory #dream #faith #go #EveryWriterWriting
