Yep!  I Literally Jumped Off a Cliff!

Do you remember having big, audacious dreams as a child?  What was your biggest dream?  Was it outlandish?  Was it practical?  

Do you still have big dreams as an adult?  Some of you are saying, “Yes!”  While others of you sigh and say, “I wish!  But, life is too busy, too hard, and too complicated to dream.”  

Regardless of whether or not we are living with dreams, what would happen if we asked God for His dreams for our lives?  And, what if we sought those dreams with all of our hearts when He gave them to us?  What might happen if we were completely surrendered to the plans He has for us?  

Over the past few months,  the word “double” in the Bible has stood out to me.  And while the context is God restoring double to His children who had been taken captive, I wondered, “What if I asked God for double of Him?  Double of His presence?  Double of His wisdom?  A double portion of Him in my life?”  

As a freshman in college, one of our “orientations” was to go to a secluded area and cliff jump.  The cliffs were about 25 and 40 feet high.  One beautiful day, some of us headed out.  The area was beautiful.  Completely wooded with a stretch of a huge, deep lake below.  The cliffs were nominal, but to a girl brought up in the flatlands, they seemed like mountains.  

Upon arriving, the upperclassmen  told us all the safety procedures and immediately started jumping.  The freshman guys had to be just as brave and strong, so they all jumped right off too.  But the freshmen girls were hesitant.  They would look over the edge and talk about it.  They would start to jump and then decide not to.  Never being one for drama, I followed my heart.  I told them to move from the edge, took a few steps back, ran and jumped off the high cliff.   It was high enough for my mind to scream on the way down, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?  ARE YOU CRAZY?”

I feel the same way about asking God for a double portion of Him in my life.  For months I have “kind of sort of” asked God about His dreams for me.  I’ve “kind of sort of” sought His will.   My heart wants to take the leap...  to just run and jump.  But, my mind is hesitant.  What will happen if I ask this of God?  Will something exciting happen?  Will I be painfully stretched?  Will the course of my life be radically changed? Will it hurt?

But the answer to the question is intriguing to me, “What if I asked God for a double portion of Him?”

Tonight I begin a 16 day vacation.  Tonight, I will boldly ask for double of Him.  Will you join me?   After I return in a few weeks, we can swap stories.  Are you in?  Let’s JUMP!!!

* * *  

Father,

I seek Your will tonight...  I seek Your dreams for my life...  I seek the prayers You would have me pray.  I seek more of You.  I seek a double portion of You.  Pour Yourself upon me, Lord.  I want You...  You alone...  You above all else.  

Thank you for growing me up.  Thank you for blessing.  Thank you for carrying me through the hard times.  Thank you for stretching me.  Thank you for drawing me closer.  Thank you for picking me up everytime I fall.  Thank you for never fleeing from me... for never leaving.  Thank you for every closed door and every open door.  Thank you for molding my broken self into something beautiful You can use.

I’m here.  I’m surrendered.  I’m ready for what You have next because I know we will travel together.  Show me, Father.  What are Your dreams for me?  I want them all to come true.

* * *

Oh Child,

You truly do not know what you ask of Me.  You are being bold and courageous.   Therefore, I will unfold new dreams for you.  Do not be afraid.  Do not be overwhelmed.  I go before you.  I have been making the way since I knit you together in your mother’s womb.  We will go together.  And, it will start with Me placing My dreams for you in your heart.  

I love you Daughter.  I love you with an everlasting love.  You are mine.  

Get ready.  Embrace all I pour out.  I will not leave you.  We will travel the journey together.  Here we go. (Joshua 1:9; Psalm 37:4,23;  Isaiah 45:2; Psalm 16:11, 23:2-3. 139).

Your Double Portion