Rich Dixon is talking about dreams.

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Toward the end of FREEDOM TOUR 2014, our team discussed my notion of “dream.”

A dream is the God-inspired desire to share your unique gifts and passions, to serve and make a difference in the world.

During the conversation I shared some thoughts about one of my favorite passages:

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! I am. Don’t be afraid.”

(Greek scholar friends assure me the phrase (ego eimi), often translated “It is I,” really means “I am.” It’s a powerful statement in which Jesus links himself to Moses’ encounter at the burning bush.)

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God-inspired dreams are God’s invitation to step out of the boat, to imagine something bigger than ourselves and our capabilities.

Following these sorts of dreams can be scary.

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Jesus placed Himself between their fear and His invitation to be courageous.

“Take courage! I am. Don’t be afraid.”

Jesus doesn’t claim they (and you and I) shouldn’t feel fear; He invites them resist being controlled by fear, because they don’t face fear in isolation.

“I am,” the God of the universe, stands with them.

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Courage is the willingness to face fear and move forward – regardless of consequences.

Jesus says courage isn’t about superhuman bravery. We don’t have to find courage within ourselves.

We can take courage from the knowledge that “I am” stands with us.

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To me, it’s a powerful image. I invite you to try repeating this phrase a few times:

Take courage.

I am.

Don’t be afraid!

When we tackle a God-inspired dream, we don’t do it alone.

To be continued…