Choose your Dreams, not your Doubts

 

Romans 1:15-17, So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. ¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. ¹⁷ For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

The great apostle was motivated to follow God’s direction and focused his energies on fulfilling that plan. He was not so enamored with doubts and fears but a goal, ambition…a dream fueled his efforts. This in my estimation is worthy of immolating.

Dr. Wiersbe observed,

No wonder Paul was not ashamed: he was taking to sinful Rome the one message that had the power to change men’s lives! He had seen the Gospel work in other wicked cities such as Corinth and Ephesus; and he was confident that it would work in Rome. It had transformed his own life, and he knew it could transform the lives of others.^[1]

This ambition to share the hope that in Christ Jesus was stimulated by the truth that the gospel is God’s power to save and transform lives.

The gospel is the inherent, omnipotent power of God operating in the salvation of a lost soul that accepts it.^[2]

We must also choose our dreams and refuse to listen to our doubts and fears. Few things are as potent as self-doubt; it breeds failure and completely slaughters our dreams. While it’s true self-doubt may raise some questions, bring temporary setbacks, or even reveal hardened obstacles, it is also true that through the right kind of doubt we grow and eventually realize our vision. We must focus more on our ideas and much less time on our reservations.

Doubt is a normal reaction when launching fresh ideas and facing new challenges. In such cases we must pull ourselves out of self-doubt to become more engaged. Fears can even make us believe we aren’t good enough.

Escaping the grips of self-doubt-based fears means setting realistic goals…at least in part. It is essential to break our big goal into manageable milestones…achievable steps. They become less intimidating or overwhelming and they build our confidence as we reach each of them.

Also, positive affirmations should be used to replace self-doubting thoughts. Pay close attention to the messages we tell ourselves! Use positive truth-filled and balanced statements to assert reality, God’s perspective, process our experiences, and make meaningful decisions instead. Self-induced doubts can be overcome by these fear killers.

Yes, Paul’s sense of obligation to the unsaved Gentiles produced an eagerness (Rom. 1:15) to evangelize them for Christ’s sake. He was entirely focused on a singular ambition!

Beloved, focus more on your dreams…ambitions and not your doubts! Don't allow your mistakes to be stumbling blocks toward quitting, instead make them building blocks to realizing God’s plan and your dreams. Stay at it, think about improvements…make yet another adjustment, apply more polish, modify it further, and tweak it yet even more. We are talking about a God-given idea…a holy ambition! Do it again...then again…this is the path to your dream. It’s okay if you must pray and fast more than usual, trust God for things you have never trusted him for before, use your head more than usual, search the Scriptures with greater diligence and discernment, break a sweat because your heart is really invested, innovate…modulate, or create! These things are likely necessary! You may sacrifice some efficiencies along the way but still choose your dreams and not your doubts. 

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^[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 517.

^[2] Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 2 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 24.