The other day my wife said to me, “Hey, you used to dream a lot bigger.”

I really started thinking and praying about that and you know what? She was right. After talking with some of my friends about this, I realized that I’m not alone—this is a common theme for men when they become a dad. Once we take on the responsibility of fatherhood, we aim to do things that make more common sense. And in a certain sense, we should!

“Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” —1 Timothy 5:8 

We need to take care of our households and be responsible for our families but in the process, we should not lose sight of the fact that God calls us to be bold in our faith. We cannot allow our dreams to die. There are things God places on our hearts for a reason and we cannot let discouragement or a change of circumstances keep us from fulfilling His call on our lives. 

When football players retire, it’s easy for us to give up the intensity we had as players—we may lose the drive to go above and beyond. But God calls us all to work our hardest for Him, not just for another touchdown or promotion. 

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” —Colossians 3:23-24

I still want to dream big, I still want to be bold in my faith, even if “all I am” is a retired football player and a father—as if that’s somehow “less” than what I was as a pro football player. We all need to be obedient to what God is calling us to do, being willing and ready to take a step of faith. If you notice you’re not dreaming as big, or your dreams don’t come as often as they used to, maybe something has to change. Maybe you are suppressing the voice of God in your life.

Personally, I have committed to being more vigilant in my prayer life. When I wake up each day I want to ask God, “If there’s something You desire from me today, show it to me so I can go and do it.” I want to do my best at my job, not just clocking in and clocking out to collect the check, I want to put all my effort into what God has called me to today because I don’t know what tomorrow holds. When I go above and beyond to bring God the glory, He will take care of me and show me the doors that He’s opening for me.

“Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose. They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them.” —Psalm 25:12-14

The time will come when God calls each of us to go somewhere or do something that requires a bold faith. I want to be listening for His voice so that when that time comes, I can dream big and take that step of faith, knowing that God can do what He says He can do.

—Joshua Vaughan

Joshua Vaughan is a regular contributor of The Increase, providing monthly articles and opinions.

Check out Joshua’s Increase profile here: http://theincrease.com/author/josh-vaughan/  

If you enjoyed this article, please share: