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Overcoming Dream Killers
Joshua 14:12
"Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said."
Caleb is one of my favorite characters in the Scriptures. One of the things that I like about him is that he never stopped serving God until the day he died. In the verse above, Caleb was eight-five years of age. Yet, at eighty-five years of age he still had his dream of getting a mountain. Not only was his dream still alive, but he wanted to be part of conquering that mountain. At a time when most people are retired and looking back at life's accomplishments, Caleb was still going strong with a desire to fulfill his dream. However, when you look at Joshua 14, you see there were five things that Caleb had to overcome that tried kill his dreams. If you want your dreams to be fulfilled, then you will have to overcome the same five dream killers.
The first dream killer is age. At eighty-five years of age Caleb's dreams were still alive. Let me challenge the senior saints who read this devotional to never stop dreaming. Yes, your energy level may not be what it has always been, but you must not stop dreaming. When you stop dreaming, then you start existing and life becomes something that you must endure. Don't let age kill your dreams. Show the younger generation that no matter what your age you still need to have dreams. At the writing of this devotional my father-in-law, Dr. Steve Heidenreich, is sixty-two years of age. Yet, when you get around him he still has dreams that he wants to conquer for missions. I love this because his dreams convict many pastors and people who have stopped dreaming. Don't let age kill your dreams.
The second dream killer is time. There are times when your dreams cannot be immediately fulfilled. However, you must not let time stop your dreams. Too many people had a dream years ago that they have allowed time to kill. It took Caleb forty-five years to finally see his dream come to fruition. Whatever you do, don't allow time to dampen or kill the dreams you had years ago.
The third dream killer is people. Caleb had a dream of going into the Promised Land and taking that mountain. However, there were men who almost killed his dream because they wanted to go back to the land of Egypt. Nobody will be as excited about your dream as you will be. There are many people who will try to throw cold water on your dreams when you share them with them. Don't let people kill your dreams. Keep pursuing your dreams even when others tell you it can't be done.
The fourth dream killer is obstacles. Caleb faced the obstacles of walls and iron chariots, but he kept pursuing his dreams. When you start pursuing your dreams, you will find that obstacles will try to discourage you. However, you must expect obstacles to come, and you must not let them kill your dream.
The fifth dream killer is your attitude. I am sure there were times when Caleb had to battle his own attitude of wanting to quit. If you are not careful, your attitude towards your dream can kill it. Keep a positive attitude so that you can still acquire your dream in spite of everything that you face. Don't let your own negative attitude kill your dreams.
What dream killer are you facing today? What dreams have you given up on? I challenge you to push the dream killer aside, pick up your dream, and start pursuing it until it becomes a reality.