Passion Grip

Have you ever been so excited about a plan for your life that it grabbed onto you with what I call a passion grip? Do you experience that “thing” that burns inside your soul and keeps you up nights just thinking about it? Does it almost make you giddy? Whether it is in the area of ministry, business, family, school, home, or talent, if it keeps burning inside and doesn’t fade away, it’s very likely from the Holy Spirit. That is the dream or vision that God has given you to pursue, and pursue it you must.

OK, so you have a dream, the vision for your life, a passion to do something that you know comes from the Father—but now what? I have personally experienced this passion grip many times throughout my life. Through pursuing my dreams, I’ve learned amazing lessons that have helped me put things in perspective and stay focused. Here are some simple guidelines that have helped me create a plan to follow my dreams:

• Keep an idea book with you This could be a little notebook inside your purse or pocket, or a note-taking app on your cell phone to record new thoughts or ideas as they pop into your head. This is important, as those fleeting thoughts can be the keys to seeing your dreams come to fruition.
• When God gives you a dream, use wisdom on whom to share it with. If you are excited about what God has shown you and you share it with people who don’t understand your enthusiasm, they may hate you, consider you to be self-righteous, or become envious. I know when not to share a dream with someone. I also know certain family members and friends with whom I can share it. I know they will be excited for me, will pray for me, and will also let me know if I’m way off base with a new idea. I appreciate that, but I never let the naysayers crush my real dream.
• Be patient and trust God for perfect timing. It’s documented that the number one cause of stress is trying to control something that cannot be controlled. This is the time to trust God and lean on this verse: “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (Habakkuk 2:3 NKJV). During the waiting time for your vision or dream to occur, you might start wondering whether your dream is actually real. Doubt can begin to creep in. Back in the 1990s, when I had a book coming out and speaking engagements lined up, Denver’s economy tanked. My husband lost his job of 17 years and I had to go back to a 65-hour-a-week job to help our family survive while my husband found new work. I thought, “Why God? Why now when everything was going great? Did I really hear from You? Was all of this just a pipe dream?”

Remember that delay does not mean denial. Choose to react to life circumstances in a positive, constructive manner rather than whine, complain, and make everyone around you miserable. I cried buckets of tears in the beginning, but I chose to be positive. My dream came to pass three years later. Through it all, I learned treasured lessons of trusting God. Life is difficult, even with Jesus in it, but His comfort and lessons are everlasting.

• Always remember you are important and precious to the Father! God’s woman, at any age, is not weak, passive, or dull. God’s woman is an example of strength, wisdom, courage, and sacrifice. Under the hand of the Almighty, she takes charge of what is set before her and does it extraordinarily.

God commanded His children: “Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land…” (Deuteronomy 1:8 KJV). This is exactly what God wants us to do today. Keep your faith in the middle of your dream and do what’s right. Do your very best every day while waiting for your dream to come to pass. Adhere to God’s Word and be faithful in all things. Embrace your unique passion grip; keep a joyful spirit; fill your life with laughter; and see what God will do!

Sherry Myklebust’s mission is to bring joy and laughter into people’s lives, to continue writing inspirational books and articles, and to encourage women to use their God-given gifts and talents to experience the excitement of fulfilled dreams, and to reach others for Christ. Her unique life experiences include founding Women to Women (W2W) Ministries, hosting the W2W television and radio programs on KRMT and KLTT in Denver, Colorado, for over five years; the monthly W2W newsletter; her first book, The Virtuous Woman Is Not June Cleaver, and multiple speaking engagements for women’s events in Colorado. Her latest book, I Can’t Eat With Chopsticks, is a hilarious account of Sherry’s mishaps flavored with an explanation of the health benefits of laughter. Sherry has been married to her adorable husband, Elling, for 46 years. Together they have two sons and a daughter, three wonderful in-law children, seven grandsons, and one granddaughter.

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I Can’t Eat With Chopsticks can be purchased through Amazon.com.