The Power of Dreams (Part Eight): Joseph Dreams of Greatness.

And the Lord said, Behold, they are one people and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do, and now nothing they have imagined they can do will be impossible for them. (Genesis 11:6, AMP)

The fourth example of a Dreamer, we see in Scriptures, is Joseph - the Dreamer. How so appropriately labeled. In fact, Genesis 37:1-11 is rightly titled, “Joseph Dreams of Greatness.” You know, we all can just as well replace Joseph’s name with ours. “Akin Dreams of Greatness” sounds just right. That is what God expects of us, to be able to see life from and through the eyes of faith. 

In Jeremiah 29:11, God tells us His thoughts towards us are those of greatness. It reads,

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (NKJV)

You can as well replace the word “thought” with “dream.” God has great dreams of us. Why should we any less? He wants to give us a future and hope. No wonder the Psalmist declares,

“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You. (Psalm 139:17-18, NKJV)

Joseph did not just have a dream. He had a dream of greatness. He had a dream to be great. He had a dream of enlargement. He had a dream of expansion. He had a dream of God making room for him. He had a dream of coming and entering his large place. And, there is nothing wrong with that. It is recorded as an example for us to follow. 

It is the Father’s will and good pleasure to give us the kingdom, not just in the world to come, but also in the here and now. That is what we learn in the Lord’s Prayer Model. “God’s kingdom come. God's will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” [Matthew 6:10] That is our prayer. That is our desire. In God’s kingdom, there is provision. He is the shepherd, and we are the sheep of His pasture. [Psalm 23:1; 95:7; 100:3] 

His will is to give us life in abundant measures. He delights in our prosperity. He delights in our well-being. He is invested in us.  He is touched by the things that touch us. He cares. [John 10:10; Zechariah 2:8; Zephaniah 3:17; Psalm 35:27]

"When we realize we are worthy simply because we were born, we no longer look outside of ourselves for validation or approval." — Unknown.

Obviously, as Christians, our first dream should be making heaven (spending eternity with God). That is first and foremost, but not the only dream. Otherwise, we might as well die and be gone to heaven. Our dream of heaven awakens in us other dreams as well. This comes from God’s original mandate to mankind, to have dominion, be fruitful, and multiply. [Genesis 1:28] 

"Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us." — Wilma Rudolph.

We are called to reign in life. [Romans 5:17]

© 2014 Akin Akinbodunse

Links to Study Series: 
The Power of Dreams (Part Seven): Abraham, the Dreamer.

The Power of Dreams (Part Nine): The God of the Whole Picture.