The ultimate "selfie"

Reframing a picture you love takes a bit of work.  First, you must clean the entire picture front and back paying special attention to the glass.  Then you examine all of the colors in the print, its size and dimensions, the print theme or artistic genre, etc., so that you can select just the right custom fitting mat and frame that bring the image to new-found vibrancy and life.   Voilà.  

 Can we do the same when we need to "reframe" a godly dream we had that never came true? 

Can we clean things up and shift the focus a bit on what is most important?   

Can we find God's blessings in the ashes?   

I told you recently about my personal godly dream for marital restoration. I held that dream for about 15 years!  But in the end, I discovered that this godly dream was an idol of my heart.  What do I mean?

Well, this godly dream represented my agenda for a happily-ever-after.  I even took pride in having such a dream especially when most folks seemed to move on after a divorce.  For me, I became determined to hold on to restoration and healing and reconciliation. 

I clenched my teeth, and, by golly, I knew God would come through!  I was secretly motivated by a big ball of self-hate, guilt, and shame that I wanted so badly to be rolled away from me.  

I hated my divorce and what I had done toward the demise of my marriage and family.  I hated my selfishness and self-focus that caused me to choose to quit.  I hated the pain I had caused to my then husband and children and now my grandchildren.  I abhorred the schism I introduced into my family's generational tree.   I  I wore the scarlet "D" across my chest, my back, and it loomed everywhere in my vision.   

The solution seemed so simple.  I believed that the very best way to have the very best victory and to have freedom from my guilt was to have the very best restored marriage.   That was my focus.  That was my dream.  That became the central focus of my heart.  I found the solution to forgive and be forgiven.  

Further, I determined that God must and would comply because what I wanted was godly. 

I called this idolatry "FAITH."  

"Idolatry?"  you ask.  Yes.  Idolatry.  I built an Asherah grove (Exo. 34:13) out of My desires, My answers, My pain, My pride, My shame.

This was the ultimate "selfie." ​

Let's just say that reframing my godly dream has been quite the task--it's been painful!  You see, the more my dream DIDN'T happen, the angrier I became toward God, my heavenly Father.  I knew He COULD restore my marriage.  I couldn't for the life of me understand why He WOULDN'T!   

I begged Him until my begging became bitterness and resentment and contempt toward Him.  God is always a fairly easy target when we are looking for someone to blame.    

So I turned my back on Him, but in 2016, I hit a bit of a low - FINALLY!   Reality was setting in.  Basically for me, life without God at center, is just a crapshoot, and all I can say is "Good luck doing life that way."     ​

The good news is that God doesn't go anywhere.  His love finds us right where we are.  Nothing can separate us from His love, no height, no depth...nothing (Rom. 8:39).

And for me, finally, there came a day when I surrendered, when I could see clearly what had blinded me before.    I grew to trust Him and His way.  And I found deep happiness and gratitude to boot!   And, of course, I experienced the blessings of finding peace and true restoration with God.  

So if you have a godly dream that's gone awry, perhaps you can relate.  Reframing that dream requires a few things from you...but you are not alone in the task.  

First the cleaning.  Humble yourself before your Creator. Pray.  Confess.  Ask for forgiveness and forgive.  Allow God to do a bit of open heart surgery.  He will expose to you  any roots misaligned with His truth.  He will restore you inside and out!  

Second, analyze your dream.  Determine why this dream was so important to you.  Examine your emotions and thoughts centered around that dream.  Seek healing and comfort from the only One who can truly give it.

Third, reframe the dream.  Beauty is always found erupting from the ashes (Isa. 61:3).  What is the beauty?  What are the "colors," the "shapes," the "dimensions" that you can now see at a different angle?  For what can you be intensely grateful?    How can you glorify God with this new scene?  

Are you determined to resist the enemy of your soul?   

When the enemy played a card "suit" about my godly dream that did not align with God's Truth and Love, I refused to follow his "suit."  Instead I resisted and then pulled out a Truth Trump Card, such as the following:

• Freedom is found in surrender, humility, and forgiveness.
• God's ways are far beyond my very best and wildest dreams.
• God's thoughts are no where near my thoughts.
• God has a good and special plan for me, for my family.
• I delight that the beautiful farm place  continues to be a blessing, a sanctuary, to my children and grandchildren.
• I place my hope and trust in God.  He is my good Father.
• Not my dreams and plans, but His.
• "Home" is where God is.
• God is enough for my loved ones, even when I trip and fall.
• I can choose to live life with the sole purpose to glorify Him. 
• I can stand in the gap of generational sins and transgressions, perhaps with renewed energy and drive.
• I am grateful that He loves me, forgives me, and restores my soul--the best restoration we could ever have. 
• I can see the beauty He gives from ashes. 

There is, after all, an "us" in the word "focus" - you just have to shift your vision a bit to the right to find it.  God will help you!

I truly hope you find God at center of your dream and that you know in every ounce of your heart that God is always with you.  Together with God you will do great things.  He won't let you down.   

---

"...It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
You will live in joy and peace.
The mountains and hills will burst into song,
and the trees of the field will clap their hands!
Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow.
Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up.
These events will bring great honor to the LORD’s name;
they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love."
Isaiah 55:11-13