For most of us 2011 has already lifted off and is in full swing. Classes started earlier this week, jobs and children's actives have come out of hibernation from Christmas holiday. Life is a busy again.
Closing 2010, we blogged about the hope of characters in the Christmas story, particularly Mary. A popular thing to start the New Year off is hope in our resolutions. Growing up I always made ridiculous resolutions, making me out of touch with the idea of looking ahead and expecting something; my resolutions were often self centered and overrated. By the time I finished High School, New Years resolutions were a thing of the past. My disposition on resolutions hasn’t changed, however I’ve com to understand that the storyline of the Bible shows men and women who dreamed for God to do big things; things that went a little beyond news year resolutions. They didn’t wait till the calendar turned over, but for us a new year can be a great reminder to dream again.
Hebrews 11 talks about the lives of these dreamers. Verses 33-38 make it clear that the life of the dreamer varies; some shut mouths of lions and quench fire, others live in holes in the ground and wonder homeless while on earth, and yet verse 39 says that all of these were in the midst of hope; even in death they hoped for their dreams to become reality, and they never gave up.
Considering this persistent faith, a habit a mentor in my life has practiced is making BHAG’s every year. BHAG means Big Hairy Audacious Goal; something bold to ask God for or expect him to do. The challenge is to seek God on a bold issue for an entire year with the persistence of the saints in Hebrews 11, who dreamed their whole lives. I wondered what it would look like to take bold requests before the Lord for that long, and the prospect of being a dreamer as Abraham and Moses was also intriguing.
Creating the list of BHAG’s was difficult; being specific takes emotion and focus. The next step, writing them down, is challenging. When a BHAG is a passing thought it is safe, yet once our desires are written on paper, we become vulnerable. By writing them down we make these requests a reality; the needs are real. Sharing these BHAG’s with a person or small group is risky too. What if none of them come through? What if God says no, or worse yet, seems to not answer them at all? Doubts and shame begin to flood our mind, yet this is part of the process of a dreamer. Every saint in Hebrews 11 had these moments, and the Bible says they pressed on. We are encouraged to do the same.
2011 is just over two weeks old, but you can make a BHAG anytime for any amount of time. The goal is taking the boldness and freedom Jesus’ provides and seeking God for powerful, life transformation. Healing for a friend, the growth of relationships, the fulfilling of a ministry calling; these are some of the BHAG’s 2011 holds for me personally. Each request requires faith and persistence, and Romans 5 tells us this builds character, which produces hope, which does not disappoint.
This year, take time to go beyond the cliche new years resolution and dream. Dream big. Make one or two or five BHAG’s to seek the Lord on in 2011, remembering the saints who have gone before and paved a road of persistent faith rooted in Jesus Christ.
Closing 2010, we blogged about the hope of characters in the Christmas story, particularly Mary. A popular thing to start the New Year off is hope in our resolutions. Growing up I always made ridiculous resolutions, making me out of touch with the idea of looking ahead and expecting something; my resolutions were often self centered and overrated. By the time I finished High School, New Years resolutions were a thing of the past. My disposition on resolutions hasn’t changed, however I’ve com to understand that the storyline of the Bible shows men and women who dreamed for God to do big things; things that went a little beyond news year resolutions. They didn’t wait till the calendar turned over, but for us a new year can be a great reminder to dream again.
Hebrews 11 talks about the lives of these dreamers. Verses 33-38 make it clear that the life of the dreamer varies; some shut mouths of lions and quench fire, others live in holes in the ground and wonder homeless while on earth, and yet verse 39 says that all of these were in the midst of hope; even in death they hoped for their dreams to become reality, and they never gave up.
Considering this persistent faith, a habit a mentor in my life has practiced is making BHAG’s every year. BHAG means Big Hairy Audacious Goal; something bold to ask God for or expect him to do. The challenge is to seek God on a bold issue for an entire year with the persistence of the saints in Hebrews 11, who dreamed their whole lives. I wondered what it would look like to take bold requests before the Lord for that long, and the prospect of being a dreamer as Abraham and Moses was also intriguing.
Creating the list of BHAG’s was difficult; being specific takes emotion and focus. The next step, writing them down, is challenging. When a BHAG is a passing thought it is safe, yet once our desires are written on paper, we become vulnerable. By writing them down we make these requests a reality; the needs are real. Sharing these BHAG’s with a person or small group is risky too. What if none of them come through? What if God says no, or worse yet, seems to not answer them at all? Doubts and shame begin to flood our mind, yet this is part of the process of a dreamer. Every saint in Hebrews 11 had these moments, and the Bible says they pressed on. We are encouraged to do the same.
2011 is just over two weeks old, but you can make a BHAG anytime for any amount of time. The goal is taking the boldness and freedom Jesus’ provides and seeking God for powerful, life transformation. Healing for a friend, the growth of relationships, the fulfilling of a ministry calling; these are some of the BHAG’s 2011 holds for me personally. Each request requires faith and persistence, and Romans 5 tells us this builds character, which produces hope, which does not disappoint.
This year, take time to go beyond the cliche new years resolution and dream. Dream big. Make one or two or five BHAG’s to seek the Lord on in 2011, remembering the saints who have gone before and paved a road of persistent faith rooted in Jesus Christ.
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