“Stop dreaming and be grateful for what you have.” How many times have you heard this from someone? From another Christian? 

 

Why can’t you be grateful AND expect more?

 

This is a question that came up when talking to a friend. After thinking about it, I thought that not only can you do both but you need to do both to claim your dreams. You need to be grateful to ease your heart and remember all the good God has done in your life. You need to expect more so you can see the vision for your dream. But only through God, can you hold this paradox in your head and heart.

 

How do you do this? Through worship and God’s Word.

 

Worship God and be grateful for what He has done. Worship God in faith for what He will do. Worship God and ask, seek, knock for your dream to be realized (Matthew 7:7-8). When you expect more from God you are actually acknowledging His sovereignty and trusting that He can do more.

 

In God’s word, it not only allows you to be grateful but it also tells you to expect more.  

 

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (being grateful)

 

Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart  – Psalms 37:4 (expecting more)

 

Fulfill your promise to your servant that you might be feared – Psalms 119:38  (expecting more)

 

Do you see now how you can do both? Be grateful and expect more? How does that change things in your life? How does this free you?

 

For me it takes away the guilt of wanting more when I already have enough. It shows me that expecting more does not take away from my gratefulness. It shows me that both of these things are biblical and that I can worship God for both. It shows me that God’s thoughts are not my thoughts and His ways are not my ways (Isaiah 55:8-9) when my human brain still struggles with this concept. 

 

My prayer for you today is that the next time you are told to be grateful and stop dreaming, maybe say something like this “ I can do both. Do you want to know how?”

In Jesus name, amen.