Reflections and questions to help a person or church dream, with lessons from the dreams God gave Joseph.

• Dreams have a season (Genesis 37).
  • Sometimes dreams are pressing and other times are a process for the future; but even the process starts in the present.
  • What God originates He will orchestrate. A key phrase for
    

    

    Joseph’s life was “The Lord was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2, 21, 23; 45:5, 7).

• What are some short-term and long-term goals and dreams for you or your ministry?

• Dreams aren’t always embraced (Genesis 37:5, 11, 19-20).
  • Our dreams should be shared with the right people at the right time and right motivation, or it will not be well received. We must be careful to not confuse our plans with God’s dreams.
  • When we share our dreams, expect both praise and pushback. Joseph’s father was nurturing, while the brothers condemning. It also seems like Joseph’s father Jacob didn’t know how to fully nurture Joseph’s dreams. Therefore, sometimes we need to find the right people to help us bring our dreams to fruition more quickly rather than enduring seasons of hardship.

• Where do you need to nurture/advance and where do you need to pushback or pause?

• What problems or challenges do some of your dreams face, and how can you overcome them?

• Dreams are best served for the good of others and the glory of God (Genesis 40; 41; 42-50).
  • Joseph had to endure a long process to see his dreams weren’t self-serving. The sacrifices he faced were circumstances that would lead to positioning him to serve nations  and his family.
  • When we share our dreams or are planning our goals, then we must identify how they fit with ministering specific needs of people.
  • Dreams and desires must be matched with the right disciplines. If Joseph didn’t maintain his integrity, prayerful in circumstances, and
  • taking action where God led then he would have missed seeing the fulfillment of his dreams.

• What disciplines are needed to see the fulfillment of your dreams?
• How can you know if your dreams are truly meeting the specific needs of others or if your dreams have grown more self-serving?