James 4:8 Archives - Stanton Lanier

As you read enjoy streaming Wherever You Go from the album Open Spaces (or listen on your favorite music service).

How are you Dreaming Big for 2020?

I want to Dream Big for this year. How about you? I want to be confident instead of hesitant, to have faith instead of unbelief, and to have an abundance mentality instead of scarcity mindset. Below are three actions I plan to practice while Dreaming Big for 2020.

1. Live Fully in the Present. Remember the past. Be mindful of the future. Live in the present. These wise words from a friend have been part of my Dreaming Big for a long time. The past year included many amazing blessings, along with some challenging trials. The future seems bright, but I can be afraid of what is uncertain and out of my control. My primary focus should be the gift of life today, and living fully in each present moment. I also need to rely on the promise “Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

2. Ask Boldly. I have found if I approach asking boldly from a posture of “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4), then my Big Dreams will better align with God’s Big Dreams for me. He is the Dream Giver, the Creator (with capital letters). I am a dreamer and creator (with lower case letters), asking God boldly to accomplish the Big Dreams He wants to come true this year in my life. This fills me with awe and wonder because I only know a small portion of what is in store. As I live fully in the present, and ask boldly, I remember the past with thanksgiving for God’s faithfulness in doing “immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within me” (Ephesians 3:20). I look expectantly to the future believing “God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish” (Philippians 1:6).

3. Move Forward by Faith. When I lean into listening for God’s voice—His gentle whisper—He guides me forward by faith. This can be a sense of the Holy Spirit nudging me toward my next step of obedience, God “speaking” to me through His Word or answers to prayer, or through acting on invitations from others with discernment. Moving forward can appear the opposite when the Holy Spirit checks my spirit to slow down or stop, when God is quiet and can seem distant during a season of waiting for clarity with a next step, or when people are offering me “good ideas” which are not “God’s best” plans. These tensions are why Dreaming Big requires faith and drawing near to God. I can move forward by faith, drawing strength from Hebrews 11:6 (without faith it is impossible to please God), and James 4:8 (Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you).

Which of these can you put into practice to energize your Dreaming Big for 2020?

Click above to listen to the title track Draw Near from my third album. If you enjoy, check out the CD or MP3 Album, Sheet Music, or visit iTunes, Amazon, or Spotify).

Are you feeling near to God or distant from God right now?

As I wrote this question I was reminded that in my faith journey, one or the other is true. For me, answering “somewhere in between” is not an honest answer. In reality, I either lean toward feeling near or distant. Some spiritual word pictures for “Near” could be Sanctuary, Mountain Top, or Still Waters. Some for “Distant” could be Desert, Valley, or Stormy Seas.

In this post I am challenging myself to name ten ideas which help with drawing near to God. I hope some of these will help you in this quest, or at least trigger your own idea to apply. These are in no particular order, and are worded as personal affirmations…

1) I will meditate on James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
2) I will practice child-like faith, giving a random act of kindness or a hug to someone.
3) I will ask God to show me how much He loves me, and watch to see what happens.
4) I will unplug from technology for five minutes to pray for two and listen for three.
5) I will surrender a desire or issue to God, and ask for His wisdom and direction.
6) I will share extravagant love with someone, by asking for or giving forgiveness.
7) I will speak words of life and encouragement to someone who could use a lift.
8) I will pause to count my blessings, instead of focusing on my frustrations.
9) I will serve someone through a hospital visit, a warm meal, or other special need.
10) I will listen to Scripture inspired piano to experience God’s presence.

Sometimes I need to focus more on Being (pursuing God to know Him better and listening for instruction), and sometimes I need to focus more on Doing (giving God’s love, grace and forgiveness to others). Practicing being and doing draws me nearer to God, and then He fulfills His wonderful promise to draw near to me.

How is God inviting you to draw near to Him?

How are You Dreaming Big for 2020?

Ten Ideas for Drawing Near to God