Persistence Of A Dream

Mar 25th, 2009 16 Comments

Persistence Of A Dream

Persistence of A Dream

Persistence comes from the root word “Persist”. Here are a few definitions that I came across.
1. to continue steadfastly or firmly in some state, purpose, course of action, or the like.
2. to last or endure tenaciously.
3. to be insistent in a statement, request, question, etc.

In the last three weeks, we talked about several aspects of a Dream. 1- The Power of a Dream, 2- The Purpose of a dream and 3- The Passion of a dream. I believe that all of these points have and will continue to help us to dream like never before. As we come to the end of this series, I would like to leave you with one last thought. In order for you to experience the power, realize the purpose and feel the passion of a dream, you must be PERSISTENT!

Why is it important to be persistent with your dream? Because often times it is through your persistence in the process of dreaming that God will meet the desires of your heart. (Psalms 37:4)
The seed that was planted in your heart long ago will not come to fruition unless you are persistent in accordance to God’s will for your life.
What will it take to be persistent with your dream? The best way to answer this question is to fully understand that there is an enemy that is intent on stopping you from dreaming. This enemy comes only to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). Therefore, if that is what we are up against, then we must be fully armed to fight back (Ephesians 6:11-17). Be steadfast, stand firm, endure tenaciously and be Persistent!
What will happen when you are persistent with your dream? I thought that it would be appropriate to answer this final question with an example of a man who persisted in his dream, even at the cost of his very life. That man is Dr. Martin Luther King. Here is the last portion of the famous “I Have a Dream” speech. As you read this transcript, may these words inspire you to not only dream, but to be persistent with your dream.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, “My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.”

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

James

Tags Devotion Dreams Persistence Category

Devotions

Dawn-from little NJ

Praise Jesus! First of all–How cute is that little angel!!!!My kids and I both watched the video together (they L.O.V.E. you, Katinas!) and they loved that she dreams of barney and babybob……

Brother James that was an awesome message as usual. I thought it was very touching that you added the words of Dr. Martin Luther King because when you started the dream series he came to mind. It was a blessing when you spoke of persistence and it reminded me of the the parable of the widow and the judge (Luke 18:1-8)–The widow went to the ruler but the ruler did not want to hear her. Eventually he did so because she troubled him with her persistence. The parable was used to speak of prayer– how we must keep coming to the throne room with persistence (not to give up)—I also feel that this is not just an example of prayer but in almost anything…”when at first you don’t succeed try, try again”. In order to see positive results we must be persistence until we see change.

Thank you, Katinas– It has been a blessing to all of us here. I have enjoyed all of these devotions of the “Dream Series” and I am excited to see what you have in-store for us next! Love you all, brothers and sisters! Be blessed and highly favored…In JESUS Name!

Your sis,
Dawn
http://baylormum.blogspot.com Shellie (baylormum)

I am most vulnerable to the enticements of evil when I am not persistent in my dreams. If I’m not persistent, I am not letting God help me cultivate that seed! But, being persistent is not one of my strong suits lately. Being unemployed has lead me to an uncomfortable place. I feel like my faith isn’t as strong as it should be; hence a black mark on my self-confidence. It’s not like I’ve forgotten anything, but sometimes that path gets rocky. I know I cannot walk this path alone path alone; I am not alone. I just feel alone.
Recovery has reminded me that I am powerless over my addiction. I was powerless when I was laid off. But, I am NOT alone. Friends are just a phone call or tweet away! And, of course, God is ever-present! Some days, that is enough. Other days, I feel inadequate. I want to be adequate. I will be persistent in my job search (even though I have a mark on my professional license). I will be persistent in my quest of hope. God demands it and I am only short-changing myself if I’m not persistent in ALL my endeavors.
Thanks, Island boys! You rock. :)
Joy

Wow…powerful.
It made me think of just how persistant Dr. King was and how long that one speech has lived. His dream lives on the in the lives of many.

Finally, if you aren’t persistant with your dream, who will be?

Without action, it dies.

J
Sista RJ

Thank you Brother James, you too Haylee timely word! Praise Jesus. We are finishing up March soon, Easter is on the horizon. This year since our Kuzins Cruise and these devo’s have started has truly been “THE AMAZING RACE”, The Dream Series is keeping us all focused, encouraged, strengthened, and even convicting which is good for there is deliverance and growth~whoo-hoo n Amen! Ephesians 6:11-17 we will keep the armor of God on and stand firm and see the deliverance of our Lord everytime. For our battle is not against flesh & blood. Power, Purpose, Passion & Persistence. Brother Martin lived his dream and it’s still as strong today. That is the legacy of the children of God! Jesus set the example and he showed the results of persistency with your dream. All humanity today has the same opportunity for salvation through Jesus fulfilling the dream with his life, death & resurrection. Kuzins, we have his power in us, same power that raised him from the dead is in us! Live and fulfill your God given dream in his power, with his purpose and be passionately men & women after his own heart, be persistent, never give up your blessing and fulfilling of your dream the desires of your heart is right around the bend/corner. Don’t get weary or tired of doing good in due time you will reap a harvest of righteousness. Don’t let any one tell you different or discourage you from the dream God has put in your heart. He is the dream giver you are the dream liver.Believing God together with u all ur best days are yet to come! Be of good cheer, he has overcome the world and so we are too. Overcomers in Jesus name…name above all names! “not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord” Free at last, Free at last, Thank God Almighty we are free at last.” (go tell somebody free at last, no more shackles, let FREEDOM RING!) Free to be who God made/ordained you to be~fearfully and wonderfully made~ :-)
Elizabeth

Make the dreams that God has for you a life style. Keep going for what God has for you. Do huge things for God that impacts the life around you. Give God your best no matter what is going on around you. Most people put limits on their lives but God has no limits for your life.

We don’t have to see it to believe it.. God is not the God of yesterday but He is the God of today, tomorrow, and forever. Focus on what you can do for God. God is the God of everything. You might think that you can’t pull off a God dream but with God anything is possible.

When you pray ask God to live out the desires of his heart. Let God help you to fulfill His desires. You might think since you can’t see God He doesn’t know you.. yes He knows you and He knows everything you are going through. He created you for a purpose. Don’t put limits on your life. Tell yourself that you are going to be on the God track and go after Him with everything.

I work in a preschool.. I love my job. It’s so much fun working with these kids because I get to make a huge impact in their lives. That’s huge to me. I believe it is a God dream for me to work with these kids. He gives me the strength everyday for me to help these kids. If you are dreaming of something that you hope to reach keep going at it so it can come true.

Have a heart for God in your life. Keep going after things that will impact your life. Make a difference in your life. Let people see our God through the things you do.

He is the God of everything. He has no limits on you. He created you for a purpose and that is to serve Him. So don’t be afraid to step out side the box and go after Him with everything you have. When you serve God with everything He will make room in your life for a blessing. People who serve God know it’s not about them but it’s about those who need to know about our God. Those are the kinds of people who make huge impacts in their lives.

When you wake up every morning thank Him for believing in you and loving you.

God Bless,
Elizabeth
Melissa M

Since Sunday God has been speaking to me about breaking that spirit of intimidation. We may have a dream, but when opposition arises a lot of times we tend to shrink back or give up on our dreams. (Maybe not all at once but slowly we begin to loosen our grip) That’s intimidation. We see the enemy of our lives (theif and destroyer of our dreams) and we fail to persist. This is a awesome word. We can’t lose hope, we must gird up and persistantly pursue the things of God, His will for our lives, and the dreams He has placed in our spirit.

Great series…really timely :)

Oh, and Dr. King’s speech is still so powerful. I was moved just reading it again. God is good fam!
Melissa M

Oh man, Haylee is so cute! Barney, Pj, and Baby Bop lol.

Sending the luv right back at you guys.
James

Hey Kuzins, thank you all for sharing your thoughts and feed back. Remember, that we are on a journey and in this journey, the seasons will change. Some seasons will be harder than others but if you persist and not give up, you will succeed in all of you dreams. It is God’s promise to us. Keep Dreamin’!
Elizabeth

I was just blogging on my blog and I thought I would share something that I wrote a long time ago about dreams.

Dreams
Dream beyond of what you see because you never know what could happen in your life years later. When you dream you are also letting people see your life in a different way. Always take ownership in what you believe in.

“Really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.”
Mark Twain quotes

Always be confident in how you want to live your life. Take ownership in your dreams and know that some day with work your dreams will come true.

Have a great day!

Elizabeth
Faith

Nice way to end the series! I guess this lines up with the saying “nothing worth having will be easy”, but its good to know that we’re not in this alone. God is always there for us to be our protection and to be our strength.

P.S. Haylee is adorable! I not that old (in my 20s),and as much as I hate to admit it…I used to love Barney too(lol).I know that you and your wife are going to raise her to dream big dreams, and to know that with God all things are possible.
Jasmin

Thank You Jesus!
Joe

Way to go James! You did a great job anchoring this series. I appreciate your words and challenge. It flows so naturally from you because you’ve been an example of what it means to be “persistent”!

Very strong my brother!
Anna~Federal Way

OMG!!!! Hey Guys, We went to see “The Cross” with about 20 of our family members on Friday and it was a place filled with people worshipping our Almighty Maker. What a JOB WELL DONE!!!. This documentary was the best that we had ever watched. It made us cry, laugh, inspired, encouraged, some of us thought about our own faith in God…etc. I love that we’re in the dream series cause the movie “The Cross” just adds alot, like a tool on the topics that is shared. This week James, you shared about Persistance and what a better time for the movie to come out. We loved how Arthur Blessit showed his persist to walk through the battle field, in the middle of a civil war carrying the cross. I had to ask myself if I would have been able to do the same and with my own child….omg what an amazing human being. I am telling everyone to go and watch this movie….what an amazing human being…ok I already said that but, he is a great example of how God just loves His children and takes care of them inspite of circumstances. How God is a God of right on time if you just trust that He knows all things. I can say a lot about the movie but it’ll take me all day…lol If you did not watch it, you have to go see for yourself. Today 3 days after I watched it, I’m still affected by his testimonies one way or another. That is a soul winning movie. Praise God!!!

God bless you guys for being song writers in this film, although we wished we could’ve seen more clips of you guys, but its ok. All the Glory to God. What a great God that we serve.
Ok, I love you guys and ttys. Say hello to all our family.
Anna

Thanks brother James for all that you put into devotion this week. Inspite of all the business you guys are going through & taking care of your family, you always deliver and execute the issue of updating us with whats going on. I have to agree with Joe, you are an example of what it means to be “persistance”. Keep it real!!!
Sista RJ

Amen Sista Anna, thanks for your testimony on “THE CROSS”! I saw this on Friday and went again Saturday with 7 family
Sistas. We all were so blessed by it and they were so blessed seeing your names on screen and when I shared with them as the song “carrying the cross”came on. This movie is all that as Sister Anna shared, the lesson for me in and how it ministered was asking myself what in my life is going on or has been going on am I willing like our brother to go through all circumstances just as he did to obey God? It was a mirror experience for me, as God has spoken clearly and yet to answer the call as we all know that’s another story. But our unworthiness doesn’t disqualify us from the call. You will be miserable outside of Gods will better to die with the wind at your back obeying if need be than to let fear, or our flesh keep us from obeying being in the center of his will. If he has called you or whatever it is your God given dream that has been locked away, or you have allowed the enemy, your flesh and the world rob,steal,kill, destroy, doubt, toss to the wayside, sugar coat, even convince yourself it’s not God, it must be me…go see this movie and I guarantee it will speak volumes to you. No doubt persistence to not give up, to keep trying no matter what obstacles come even to the point of being alone but not lonely with only Jesus.
Will we be able to still press on answering the call/dream he spoke to us, put in our hearts? and say He is enough, He alone be glorified. Even obedience to ridicule from even our brethren in Christ, (well meaning and all) will we still keep the faith, believe what God has put in our hearts, or asked us to do? I realize that my God given dream is the purpose of my life and I’m encouraged and blessed reassured that just as God has blessed our Brother Arthur and many other obedient brethren who said yes, to Him…he will do the same for me. To God alone be the glory! Dare to believe & obey God! Brothers, we give God all the glory for his blessings upon all of you in being a part of this movie that will go all around the world no doubt! Jesus is glorified and many will come to him through this! Everyone go see it, take your family, frenz and all our Kuzins…This is a must see and also when out on video a must buy and keep in your family movie collection and gifts for Christmas, Birthdays, or just because. They will be BLESSED! God Bless all you Kuzins around the world. :-)
Elizabeth

I hope everyone is having a great week?? No matter what lets make sure we still have our hearts for God. Lets make sure we are passionate for God no matter what.

“Christianity is not a theory or speculation, but a life; not a philosophy of life, but a living presence.” — Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The pastors in my church always say that Christianity is not a religion but it’s a relationship with our God. I believe that because the deeper we can go with our God the stronger our relationship will be with Him.

Have faith and know that you can make it through anything with God on your side!

God Bless,,
Elizabeth
Lisa

I have a question, I have been reading books about faith and God’s dream for your life. Can it work on people too? I mean if you really like someone and you feel in your heart that God has told you that that person is for you. Can you have faith that you will get that person in God’s timing? Everyone has different opinions on things so was wondering what everyone’s thoughts are here.

Persistence Of A Dream

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