20 by 2020 ???

I don’t have a “Bucket List.”

Thanks to You, Lord, I have forever to go to exotic places and do adventuresome things! Like You did after the Resurrection!

“… when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!'”  (John 20:19)

But what about vision and goals?

I know a well-articulated vision ignites our passion and draws us toward a desired future. And SMART — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-sensitive — goals help spur us into action.  Yet I don’t want my thoughts to limit You in any way, Lord.  Or to misdirect my steps away from Your divine plans.

You have given me a vision that ignites my passion, Lord.  But yesterday, You whispered a goal that both thrilled me and terrified me.  Was it really You, Lord?  Or was it some other voice?  Like Gideon in days long gone, I want to be sure.

Gideon was in a wine press, threshing wheat.  He was hiding from the Midianites, when You spoke to him:  

“The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!”  (Judges 6:12)

Mighty warrior?  The “least” guy in the “weakest” tribe of Israel?  (His words).  Yet You had an assignment for him.  Something bigger than him.  Something impossible for him, apart from You, Lord.  So he wanted to be sure it was really You talking…

“I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor.  If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know…”  (Judges 6:37)

You did it, Lord!  A true miracle!  But once was not enough for Gideon.  Needing to be sure, he asked You to do yet another miracle.

“… this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.”  (Judges 6:39)

You did this, too!  So he followed You… and the world was changed forever as a result!

The same is true for each one of us… isn’t it, Lord?  You want to change the world forever through us, all by Your Spirit.  If we will listen… and follow!

Yesterday, I read about the goal You gave Mark Batterson of National Community Church: 20 locations by 2020.  An impossible goal in human ability!  A simple goal for Almighty God!

And in that moment, I heard a question in my spirit:

“What is your ’20 by 2020,’ Diana?  The 20 [fill in the blank] you will accomplish, achieve, realize — by My Spirit, to advance My Kingdom?”

I know the question was from You, Lord.  But the answer?  I’m not so sure.  Why? Because the answer was thrilling when I think of its potential results for You.  And terrifying when I think of myself, like Gideon did, as “the least” of “the weakest.”

Maybe it’s time for me to put out a fleece.  And maybe this is a worthy question for all of us to ask ourselves.  To ask You, Lord:

What is our “20 by 2020”?

How big do I dare to dream, Lord?

Trembling with anticipation,

Abba’s Girl

 

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