From Dream to Deliverance
By Rick Warren
“God . . . is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of — infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes” (Ephesians 3:20b TLB).
If you want your faith to grow so you can claim God’s promise in Mark 9:23b — “Everything is possible for the person who has faith” (GNT) — then you must first understand that God takes you through six phases of faith.
Phase 1: Dream
What dream has God given you? If you don’t have a dream you’re working toward, you just exist. You need to start praying, “God, give me your dream.” You’re here on earth for a purpose. When you discover that purpose, you’ll discover the dream God wants you to go after.
“God . . . is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of — infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes” (Ephesians 3:20b TLB).
Phase 2: Decision
Maybe you have a dream from God, but you’ve not yet made a decision to go after it. God’s word for you in phase two is, “Go for it!” You may need to make the decision to give your life to Christ or be baptized or join a church or get involved in ministry.
“If you are like that, unable to make up your mind and undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord”(James 1:7-8 GNT).
Phase 3: Delay
When things don’t happen on our timetable, we tend to run ahead of God and create detours to make it happen. Do not detour! You may end up making the wrong decision. You’re in God’s waiting room. Wait for God to work his hand.
God says in Habakkuk 2:3a, “But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled” (TLB).
Phase 4: Difficulty
What difficulties have you faced waiting for your dream to be fulfilled? You’ll go through many tests in life, but God knows what’s happening. He’s watching, and he hasn’t forgotten you.
“Even though you are temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials and temptations. This is no accident — it happens to prove your faith, which is infinitely more valuable than gold”(1 Peter 1:6b-7 Phillips).
Phase 5: Dead End
Maybe you’re at your dead end, and you’re ready to give up. But you’re right where God wants you! He is preparing you for deliverance. God’s word for you is, “Hang on! Don’t give up!”
“At that time we were completely overwhelmed, the burden was more than we could bear, in fact we told ourselves that this was the end. Yet we believe now that we had this experience of coming to the end of our tether that we might learn to trust, not in ourselves, but in God who can raise the dead”(2 Corinthians 1:8b-9 Phillips).
Phase 6: Deliverance
Do you expect and trust God to deliver you? He will. But it doesn’t happen overnight. You have to go through all six stages before God brings you to deliverance.
“I know that I will live to see the Lord’s goodness in this present life” (Psalm 27:13 GNT).
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Talk It Over
How do you know if a dream is from you or from God?
Why do you think God tests you when you are in the “difficulty” phase?
What have you learned about yourself and about God when you have been delayed in your dream?
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Everything is Possible with God Study Kit with Bonus CD: Sound of Hope Worship
Just like exercise builds your physical muscles, God has a workout program for you to strengthen your faith. And in the Everything Is Possible with God Study Kit, Rick Warren shows you God’s divine training routine to help you strengthen your faith and develop your character.
In these six eye-opening sessions, Rick takes you through what he calls the “six phases of faith,” exploring subjects like how God builds your faith, how to make wise decisions, and moving from dead-end to deliverance.
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This devotional © 2017 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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