Dreams or Schemes?

God creates everyone for a purpose. He blesses us with talents necessary to fulfill our destiny. God places dreams within us that align our desires with His will.

Our dreams are rooted in things we are passionate about or long to see fulfilled. Some people nourish their dreams. Others smother them when faced with obstacles that seem too large to overcome.

Dreams born of God benefit others, not just the dreamer.

Schemes are often self-serving accompanied by arrogance that fuels the schemer.

Dreams bless others.

Schemes use others.

I’ve often heard, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.”

Some of our plans become so far removed from what God intended that it takes time and trials for us to get back on the right track. We often become deluded when we compare ourselves to the success of others. The grass looks greener syndrome can prompt us to abandon our dreams for ill-conceived schemes.

Schemes usually manipulate and involve some type of deception. Pertinent facts are omitted. Exaggeration and persuasion are common. Schemes require orchestration by the schemer to bring about the desired result.

Dreams come to fruition through God’s will. His perfect timing and opportunities leave no doubt of His blessing on it. Our dreams don’t come to pass without hard work on our part, yet our work is fruitful.

Schemes are void of God’s involvement. Alarms of warning fall on deaf ears.

Dreams are shadowed with peace that passes understanding, confirmation to the dreamer God orders his steps.

Dreams glorify God.

Schemes magnify man.

B is for blessed devotional dreamer or schemer 2 8-2015  Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5 NKJV

When we commit our ways to the Lord, we entrust our ways to God. We submit our actions over to God, allowing Him to guide us in the things we do.

Unfortunately, committing our ways to God may force us to do things we don’t want to do. Obedience may be painful. It may even appear that we are short-changing ourselves or working against our own best interests.

Yet, when we “trust in Him” we can obey knowing that God works out all things, even the painful ones, for our eventual good. We can trust God will allow the very best to come to pass. God’s provision enables us to realize our dreams even when the facts say “no way!”

We can trust God or trust our own limited power.

I am quite grateful that God manages my life far better than I ever could. It just took me a few years to realize it!

Dreamer or Schemer?

Which do you choose?

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
But the Lord weighs the spirits.
Commit your works to the Lord,
And your thoughts will be established. Proverbs 16:2-3 NKJV

By Lilka Finley Raphael

Author, Editor, Gardner, Photographer, Pharmacist

25 comments

  2. Excellent post Lilka, I love how you qualifed the difference between dreaming and scheming, and trusting in God for all our needs, even when we have to let go of certain things in the process. Not least of all, our fears. Wonderfully encouraging and perfect scriptures. Thank you 🙂

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  4. Many times I call the gist of this article ambition versus divine purpose. Many times our schemes (ambitions) bring us into conflict with God’s dreams (purpose) for us. The earlier we shelf those schemes, the earlier we start living. Great write up!

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    1. Thank you so much! You are so correct. Our ambition can send us running around yet accomplishing nothing. Once we shed it, I believe it is then we can see what God would have us to do instead of pursuing what we “think” we want. Thanks for stopping by and taking time to comment. B Blessed!

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  5. Some may say I’m a Dreamer, but I’m not the only one.
    Someday you’ll join us and the world will be as one.
    Apologies to the late great John Lennon.

    I’m a Dreamer. When I was a kid I was a daydreamer, now just a Dreamer like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who had a Dream that made it possible for my generation reap the benefits of the Civil Rights Movement.

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    1. Glad you liked it. It just came to me in the middle of yesterdays church service, not at all related to the sermon. Not sure what that’s all about but I rarely write what I plan to write! 😉

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  7. Hi Lilka! I like this very much. Dreams can and will come to pass by the will of God. Schemes are deadly for not only the “doers,” but those who are affected by the fallout. And God will hand out much punishment to those who use trickery and deceive others with it…

    Steve

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      3. You already have Lilka! You always do. I want to find a new post from you on any topic of your choice so I can RB it and share with my FB friends!

        I’ll keep looking…

        Steve 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Thanks so much Steve. I may have to put you on my marketing payroll! Seriously, my newest blog God and the Garden has shorter post on it, probably more suited for FB. I’ll be posting some of those on this page from time to time in preparation for the hardback copy of God and the Garden hitting retailers this fall. B Blessed!

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Can you send me a link to your new page? I’d love to look it over…

        Oh, and I would accept a marketing job but I have enough trouble finding time to answer my own page replies, haha!

        Steve 🙂

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      7. I read the new site and RB’ed one article. It is fantastic, Lilka! Please send me a reply to the comment I left there so I have an ongoing website address…

        Have a super day!
        Steve

        Liked by 1 person

      9. That is so exciting Lilka! I managed to have one article published and then republished, and that felt amazing!

        Look at you with several books and websites, etc. You are a talented writer and it is obvious I’m not the only one who thinks so!

        Enjoy your day…
        Steve 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      10. Thank you for your kind words. It has been a twenty plus year process. Glory to God all things are possible when we trust and are willing to wait. Our timing and a His timing aren’t alway the same but eventually He works it out! Enjoy your weekend!

        Liked by 1 person

      11. Timing is a common problem among believers…actually the patience to wait on the timing is the issue!

        I’m glad you have enjoyed success, you have worked hard at it I can tell!

        Talk to you again soon, Lilka!
        Steve

        Liked by 1 person

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