I AM...Under Construction
It's not possible, I finally said, shaking my head.
I looked down at my pages full of red ink and decided, Katai, this greatness thing is just too hard.
Most times, when people see me, I move around with a big black book in my hand called "Written In The Stars", where I am always jotting down notes.(that is how much I love writing). This book is my personal journal where I write down my personal revelations, notes (most of them end up on this very blog) and most importantly, dreams.
However, at this moment in time, I stared at this page and wondered whether this new thing is possible.
Continuing from where I left off, after I decided to be great, I began to think big and great thoughts. I asked and inquired from God, asking Him, what do you want me to do with my life? How can you use my passions and gifting to bring out the best version of me?
Days later, after constant searching and much thought, I felt my ideas flow. I grabbed my red pen and began to write down all the great ideas that popped through my mind. As I wrote them, I felt my pulse race and excitement jump in my veins. Yes, I thought, this is it!
I had just finished and re-read them and suddenly, I felt fear and doubt settle in my heart.
These dreams were just too big. I couldn't do them. Not with this Katai.
I began to disqualify myself and convince myself that deciding to be great was the craziest and probably the worst decision of my entire life; I could have stayed in the comfort zone where it is safe, because these dreams are just impossible.
Look at you, I told myself, You are not even half the woman you are meant to be. Just give up on these crazy dreams. It isn't possible.
Instantly, I began to feel worthless, angry and all sorts of negative vibes came over me. I asked God, filled with frustration, whether I am normal to dream such things.
But suddenly, I remembered a young man who felt the same way.
Let's back-track to Genesis 37 where we see a famous story of a young dreamer.
In the land of Canaan, another seventeen-year-old named Joseph had a dream. He had a dream that he would be in a very authoritative position so great that even his own older brothers and father would bow down to his feet and show him respect. Unfortunately, Joseph was young, excited and pretty naive because the first thing he did was tell his brothers, who hated him because their father Jacob loved him more than them. When he told his brothers, they began to fume with anger and envy, but his father, who rebuked him, still wondered why young Joseph could dream such a dream; could it be that this boy with a coat-of-many-colours can be a ruler in disguise?
Further down, we see a twist in the story. The brothers were filled with so much hate for Joseph that they threw him in a well and ended up selling him to slave traders to Egypt. If that wasn't bad enough, the brothers even lied to their own father that Joseph was killed by a wild beast.
I am sure innocent Joseph on that donkey, bound in chains, was thinking about that dream. He probably wondered, "God, was I normal to dream such things?"
At this point, you wonder, was Joseph making it up? This "dream" of authority doesn't seem real. But fast forward later,13 years later, after facing false accusation, unlawful imprisonment and hate, Joseph was now elected the Prime Minister of Egypt and when his homeland was in famine, the same brothers came to ask for food. When they came to see him, they couldn't recognise him and out of respect, they bowed down at his feet (Genesis 42:6).
Wait!! Bow down? Wasn't that the dream that was predicted so long ago but it came to pass 13 years later. I began to ask myself, what happened? Why did it take so long? Until it dawned on me why:
God had to build and grow a man out of Joseph that would be worth bowing down to.
One thing I have noticed in life is that we have great dreams, but often times they take so long to manifest. Is it because God has forgotten? Were we hallucinating or imagining things? The answer is no because God is a character-building God and we are constantly under construction.
If you look at the story of young Joseph, he received a vision that he would be in authority. But at the time he saw it, he was just a shepherd boy. Who and what would a simple shepherd boy have authority? However, it took an Egypt, a lustful wife, a prison, an interpretation and a favourable Pharaoh to make that dream come to pass. Besides, the very fact that you can see yourself in that dream is because you are capable of achieving it.
In this series I have started called Under Construction, I will look at what it costs to be great. To be great, you need a character for greatness. And greatness is not built overnight; it is a continual process.
If you look at 1 Corinthians 3:10-17, the basis scripture for this series, you see Paul using his famous metaphor of us being God's building. Paul describes himself as a "master builder", who has the purpose of building you. He refers to us as a temple of God that will be tested with fire on judgment day. But the way you will pass the test depends on what you are made of (character).
God is a character-building God (he has always been) and he is constantly using your time here (meaning your life) to build the best version of you. He will use seasons, time, circumstances that are good and bad in nature to bring out the best in you.
When I read about Joseph, I felt hope rise in me. I wondered why I could receive a revelation of such dreams at such a young age. I mean, I thought, I am only seventeen. I don't have what it takes. I have many flaws and I cannot sustain this dream.
But that's a good thing (a very good thing) because it is an opportunity for God to build the woman who can. I am not finished yet; I am just greatness under construction.
In this new series, we will explore different methods and attitudes God has taught me, in my own life and others, which he uses to build into our character. Using examples of Biblical characters, my hope and prayer for this series is that you may see that whatever circumstance is coming your way, your character is being built for your dream.
Always remember, small beginnings are where the character for greatness is grown.
You're not a failure. You are just greatness that is #UnderConstruction.
But like every good building, you must have a good, solid blueprint.
To be continued....sooner than you think.
Guide. Light. Inspire
I looked down at my pages full of red ink and decided, Katai, this greatness thing is just too hard.
Most times, when people see me, I move around with a big black book in my hand called "Written In The Stars", where I am always jotting down notes.(that is how much I love writing). This book is my personal journal where I write down my personal revelations, notes (most of them end up on this very blog) and most importantly, dreams.
However, at this moment in time, I stared at this page and wondered whether this new thing is possible.
Continuing from where I left off, after I decided to be great, I began to think big and great thoughts. I asked and inquired from God, asking Him, what do you want me to do with my life? How can you use my passions and gifting to bring out the best version of me?
Days later, after constant searching and much thought, I felt my ideas flow. I grabbed my red pen and began to write down all the great ideas that popped through my mind. As I wrote them, I felt my pulse race and excitement jump in my veins. Yes, I thought, this is it!
I had just finished and re-read them and suddenly, I felt fear and doubt settle in my heart.
These dreams were just too big. I couldn't do them. Not with this Katai.
I began to disqualify myself and convince myself that deciding to be great was the craziest and probably the worst decision of my entire life; I could have stayed in the comfort zone where it is safe, because these dreams are just impossible.
Look at you, I told myself, You are not even half the woman you are meant to be. Just give up on these crazy dreams. It isn't possible.
Instantly, I began to feel worthless, angry and all sorts of negative vibes came over me. I asked God, filled with frustration, whether I am normal to dream such things.
But suddenly, I remembered a young man who felt the same way.
Let's back-track to Genesis 37 where we see a famous story of a young dreamer.
In the land of Canaan, another seventeen-year-old named Joseph had a dream. He had a dream that he would be in a very authoritative position so great that even his own older brothers and father would bow down to his feet and show him respect. Unfortunately, Joseph was young, excited and pretty naive because the first thing he did was tell his brothers, who hated him because their father Jacob loved him more than them. When he told his brothers, they began to fume with anger and envy, but his father, who rebuked him, still wondered why young Joseph could dream such a dream; could it be that this boy with a coat-of-many-colours can be a ruler in disguise?
Further down, we see a twist in the story. The brothers were filled with so much hate for Joseph that they threw him in a well and ended up selling him to slave traders to Egypt. If that wasn't bad enough, the brothers even lied to their own father that Joseph was killed by a wild beast.
I am sure innocent Joseph on that donkey, bound in chains, was thinking about that dream. He probably wondered, "God, was I normal to dream such things?"
At this point, you wonder, was Joseph making it up? This "dream" of authority doesn't seem real. But fast forward later,13 years later, after facing false accusation, unlawful imprisonment and hate, Joseph was now elected the Prime Minister of Egypt and when his homeland was in famine, the same brothers came to ask for food. When they came to see him, they couldn't recognise him and out of respect, they bowed down at his feet (Genesis 42:6).
Wait!! Bow down? Wasn't that the dream that was predicted so long ago but it came to pass 13 years later. I began to ask myself, what happened? Why did it take so long? Until it dawned on me why:
God had to build and grow a man out of Joseph that would be worth bowing down to.
One thing I have noticed in life is that we have great dreams, but often times they take so long to manifest. Is it because God has forgotten? Were we hallucinating or imagining things? The answer is no because God is a character-building God and we are constantly under construction.
If you look at the story of young Joseph, he received a vision that he would be in authority. But at the time he saw it, he was just a shepherd boy. Who and what would a simple shepherd boy have authority? However, it took an Egypt, a lustful wife, a prison, an interpretation and a favourable Pharaoh to make that dream come to pass. Besides, the very fact that you can see yourself in that dream is because you are capable of achieving it.
In this series I have started called Under Construction, I will look at what it costs to be great. To be great, you need a character for greatness. And greatness is not built overnight; it is a continual process.
If you look at 1 Corinthians 3:10-17, the basis scripture for this series, you see Paul using his famous metaphor of us being God's building. Paul describes himself as a "master builder", who has the purpose of building you. He refers to us as a temple of God that will be tested with fire on judgment day. But the way you will pass the test depends on what you are made of (character).
God is a character-building God (he has always been) and he is constantly using your time here (meaning your life) to build the best version of you. He will use seasons, time, circumstances that are good and bad in nature to bring out the best in you.
When I read about Joseph, I felt hope rise in me. I wondered why I could receive a revelation of such dreams at such a young age. I mean, I thought, I am only seventeen. I don't have what it takes. I have many flaws and I cannot sustain this dream.
But that's a good thing (a very good thing) because it is an opportunity for God to build the woman who can. I am not finished yet; I am just greatness under construction.
In this new series, we will explore different methods and attitudes God has taught me, in my own life and others, which he uses to build into our character. Using examples of Biblical characters, my hope and prayer for this series is that you may see that whatever circumstance is coming your way, your character is being built for your dream.
Always remember, small beginnings are where the character for greatness is grown.
You're not a failure. You are just greatness that is #UnderConstruction.
But like every good building, you must have a good, solid blueprint.
To be continued....sooner than you think.
Guide. Light. Inspire
This topic I can relate to. The questioning whether the dream was prophetic in the end or just a silly child's dream,everything. I think in the end what is important is to realise that when you have had these dreams it's God's affirmation of support. That he will be there for you, that he will guide you, that he will help you achieve it if, and mostly if, you do your part and make a conscious decision to do so. To work towards it, to make it your purpose and to hence target your life around it and keep focused. To devote yourself to the mission God has given you and to be aware, I will just obey and do my part, God will handle the rest.
ReplyDeleteTo accept all you need to do is, in your words, allow yourself to be God's construction site and a good one at that.
Beautiful and intriguing piece. Keep these up.
ReplyDelete