*Disclaimer- I received this book in exchange for an honest review- all opinions are my own*
I have lots of ideas. Big dreams and things I want to do…someday. Isn’t that how it always goes? Our aspirations are legion, but when it comes down to taking the first step, we fall short?
If you need a push, a little motivation to set your feet on the starting line- pick up Mark Batterson’s new book Chase the Lion. The subtitle of this book is, “If Your Dream Doesn’t Scare You, it’s Too Small.” And that’s the truth!
Mark reminds us through tales from his own life, the lives of fellow dreamers, and that of Benaiah, that if our dreams are achievable by our own power- then we’re not reaching high enough.
A God-sized dream will always be beyond your ability, beyond your resources.”
We can’t do it on our own- but why would we? We have the creator of the universe on our side, ready to help us achieve these God sized, out of this world dreams!
He does things we can’t do so we can’t take credit for them. God honors big dreams because big dreams honor God.”
I highlighted almost every page of this book. It is filled with more wisdom than my brain could hold. I had to read it chapter by chapter to fully drink in what I was reading. Mark shares with us so many stories of great dreamers- who achieved amazing and huge things. But, we sometimes forget that it’s not always in our lifetime that these dreams will come to fruition.
We overestimate what we can accomplish in a year or two, but we underestimate what God can accomplish in a decade or two. If you’re discouraged, zoom out.”
By pursuing our dreams, we are affecting the future generations of our families. And we can be reaching people for Jesus hundreds of years after we’ve walked this earth- just as the life of Jesus is still affecting us.
We sometimes believe that our dreams don’t matter to God. That what we want isn’t in his plans, but that’s so far from the truth.
In the beginning God had a dream called creation. On the sixth day He created dreamers. That ability to imagine is unique to His image bearers. Imagination is God’s gift to you. A dream is your gift back to God.”
Batterson shares stories with us over and over again how dreamers’ dreams have inspired more dreamers. And how in his very own life there have been so many events that have occurred and connections that have been made, it could have only been God-ordained…down to the meeting of his own wife!
When you’re down on your luck and feeling as if you’ll never achieve your goals- put your trust in Him. Allow him to work a miracle in your life! You may be right where you are just so that He may show you something you would deem impossible.
We tend to avoid situations where the odds are against us, but when we do, we rob God of the opportunity to do something supernatural.”
And if you make it to the end of a dream that you don’t feel you’ve accomplished- don’t give up. It may not be over yet. There may be someone that this particular dream was meant for.
Sometimes God will put a dream in your heart that is actually for someone else to accomplish.”
My biggest deturrent in pursuing my dreams is fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. Fear that no one will care about what I have to say. But, Mark had a balm for that wound as well:
The only difference between scaredy-cats and lion chasers is love. It’s the love of God that sets us free from the spirit of fear. When you know that God loves you no matter what, you’re not afraid to fail, because you know that God will be right there to pick you up if you fall down.”
And I’m reminded that it’s been true in my own life time and time again. My struggle with fear- and him being there to pick me up out of my hopelessness.
So if you’re having trouble pulling the trigger on your dream. If you don’t know where to start, and need a little kick in the back to get yourself started, pick up a copy of this book.
It has me ready to pursue my dreams. Ready to take some chances. And most importantly, ready to not fear failure.
What dreams are you chasing? Do you have a God-sized dream?
Print out this Lion Chaser’s Manifesto and get started on your dream!
