The dream God gave Joseph helped to sustain him through experiences that would probably crush many of us. He was resented by his family, repeatedly tempted by his boss’s wife, then thrown into prison for thirteen years for a crime he never committed. Yet at his lowest points God was with him, arranging each step he took and positioning him to fulfil his calling. The psalmist talks about the strange way in which God led Joseph: ‘Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them – Joseph, who was sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfil his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character’ (Psalm 105:17-19 NLT). Our gender does not limit God, and our age is no problem to Him. Our season of life doesn’t limit God either. He can give us a new dream at any time. But we need to make sure the dreams we have for our lives are from God. Our dreams can’t come out of a selfish desire to have the same level of success as someone else, or our need to ‘prove’ something to someone else. They need to come out of God’s Spirit. We need to check the source of our dream, because when God is the source, He will provide all the resources necessary to fulfil it. And if we’re feeling like we don’t have a dream at the start of this New Year, let’s ask God to give us one. He wants us to partner with Him in bringing His kingdom here on earth. He wants us to be a part of His plan.

What Now?

Have you got a dream for 2019? If not, ask God to give you one.