What is God's purpose for our dreams?

[Sacred.Beautiful.]

I grew up with a fear of Jesus' words about losing your life in order to save it, dying to self in order to live. My young mind figured that meant it was sinful to be happy and have what you want in life. As a result, I've developed a fear that to want is selfish.
I've been looking at it differently lately, the idea of full surrender to God. I feel that I am still not fully understanding, and yet, I feel a desire to hand it all over to God, because to live for God must be the most beautiful way to live. And part of me suspects that's the way to true freedom.
I've thought about this for a while, but today I felt my own personal desires for my life very strongly. And I'm struggling to understand what God's purpose is for giving me these hopes and dreams for my life - hopes and dreams like marriage, family, home.
Am I being selfish?
I can sense that God wants my whole heart, and that He deserves to be first place in my life. But what do I do about the things I want so strongly?

 

[BIOTCatholics777]

I grew up with a fear of Jesus' words about losing your life in order to save it, dying to self in order to live. My young mind figured that meant it was sinful to be happy and have what you want in life. As a result, I've developed a fear that to want is selfish.
I've been looking at it differently lately, the idea of full surrender to God. I feel that I am still not fully understanding, and yet, I feel a desire to hand it all over to God, because to live for God must be the most beautiful way to live. And part of me suspects that's the way to true freedom.
I've thought about this for a while, but today I felt my own personal desires for my life very strongly. And I'm struggling to understand what God's purpose is for giving me these hopes and dreams for my life - hopes and dreams like marriage, family, home.
Am I being selfish?
I can sense that God wants my whole heart, and that He deserves to be first place in my life. But what do I do about the things I want so strongly?

You're not being selfish. We are called to different vocations in life...Married, single, vowed, or ordained. You can still have a family and give yourself to the Lord. Marriage is a sacrament also, don't fret. Just pray and trust in the Lord, everything will pan out. Promise!

 

[Sacred.Beautiful.]

You're not being selfish. We are called to different vocations in life...Married, single, vowed, or ordained. You can still have a family and give yourself to the Lord. Marriage is a sacrament also, don't fret. Just pray and trust in the Lord, everything will pan out. Promise!

Thank you for the encouragement.

 

[BIOTCatholics777]

Thank you for the encouragement.

You're welcome, happy I could help!

 

[Aaron112]

I can sense that God wants my whole heart, and that He deserves to be first place in my life. But what do I do about the things I want so strongly?

Turn to Him and Trust Him, Believe His Word instead of men. (we have to give up what men taught us all of our lives when we turn to Jesus to follow Jesus, if Jesus Permits.

btw, all the wants and desires of our soulish life are not cleaned up to be made good or right or in line with God's Will - they are all crucified according to God's Perfect Plan to Save us even from ourselves and our 'good' religion or whatever.

 

[timf]

Some think the symbology of dreams is related to the process of compressing short term memory into long term memory.

You mentioned the strong emphasis you have for your desires. Christianity is about the transition from the flesh (selfishness) to Christ like love (selflessness). If you are able to set aside some of the intensity of your desires, you may find they take a less prominent role in your dreams.

 

[com7fy8]

I grew up with a fear of Jesus' words about losing your life in order to save it, dying to self in order to live.

Well, Jesus does say >

"'He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.'" (John 12:25)

I note how Jesus says someone can lose one's life by loving it. I think this can mean the person is seeking the person's own way and the pleasures that person prefers; and therefore, without God the person is messing things up and not able to handle problems well. But if I let go of everything and offer myself to God, for God to do what He pleases with me at every moment . . . now I am going to discover how creative God Himself is with me.

And in His love my life is better than it used to be. Even if there might be certain things and people who are the same in my life now, with God all is so better, how He makes good use of everything.

And we are being conformed to the image of Jesus. This is better than how I used to be. But there are things I still have; but I use them for much greater good.

 

[Muhan]

What is God's purpose for our dreams?​

To bring about His purpose
for your dreams.

 

[Sacred.Beautiful.]

Well, Jesus does say >

"'He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.'" (John 12:25)

I note how Jesus says someone can lose one's life by loving it. I think this can mean the person is seeking the person's own way and the pleasures that person prefers; and therefore, without God the person is messing things up and not able to handle problems well. But if I let go of everything and offer myself to God, for God to do what He pleases with me at every moment . . . now I am going to discover how creative God Himself is with me.

And in His love my life is better than it used to be. Even if there might be certain things and people who are the same in my life now, with God all is so better, how He makes good use of everything.

And we are being conformed to the image of Jesus. This is better than how I used to be. But there are things I still have; but I use them for much greater good.

That was beautifully said, thank you.

 

[com7fy8]

I've developed a fear that to want is selfish.

"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5)

If we get concerned with the life we can have, this can get our attention away from God . . . whom we have now, already! And God is so better than all we could wish for. So, being content with what we have can help us to stay attentive to God and discovering all He pleases to >

s - h - a - r - e . . . with us.

And Jesus says >

"if you love those who love you, what reward have you?" (in Matthew 5:46)

By having favoritistic and possessive and controlling love, we are not living with Jesus in His all-loving love. And so we are in deep weakness in what is not God's love. And we can be only using people for what we want . . . even being in love with what we want, not really in love with some person we want to use to get it. And our weakness for pleasure and using is also weakness so we can keep suffering in different sorts of torment.

But in God's love . . . one kiss can do more for me, than billions of universes of gold and silver could. And forgiving in God's love is specially blessed . . . in us, if not in the forgiven person.

And Jesus guarantees what will happen if we leave behind the lives we have had for our own selves >

"Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands,

for My sake and the gospel's,

who shall not receive a hundredfold

now in this time---

houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands,

with persecutions---

and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Mark 10:29-31)

"for My sake and the gospel's" > it needs to be God's way.

"who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time---" > not in another life, but here in this life > "in this time". Whatever you leave for Jesus . . . you will receive "a hundredfold" in this life. He guarantees this.

So, there is the miracle needed > how God has us really with Jesus, so this works how Jesus guarantees. We don't just pull our own strings to get this.

"houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands" > not much money > but > brothers and sisters and mothers and children are family blessings . . . for loving. We leave all for Jesus so now we can become all-loving and ***adopting*** with our love. We have so more than money and pleasures. Loving as one another's adopted family is our treasure . . . in sharing with God.

However > with all this loving come all the pains and troubles of all these dearly loved of our new adopted family >

"with persecutions", Jesus also guarantees. And so, we need to grow in Jesus in His love so we are strong for taking care of how things will go for our many so dearly loved ones. Ones will die before we do. Others will have problems in marriage and persecution. And so, we will share with them all, adopting their nice things and their hard things along with them! However, in God's love all-loving we have His strength so we handle things with "rest for your souls" > Matthew 11:28-30. Plus, in our Creator's love we have His own creativity for how to love and help and share with any person, at all.

So, Jesus guarantees this. We need, then, to trust You, Jesus, to so succeed in us.

 

[HolyArmor]

Maybe try this,
In a prayer, ask God to use you. This is what I did and over time God gave me direction and purpose. "Lord, please use me as a tool as you see fit. I surrender to you Lord, please guide me and shape me in the way you want". Something like that. Let God be the potter, as you are the clay.
This way you will be aligned to do God's work so that you can confirm whether your selfish desires are just either getting in the way, or are truly in alignment to what God wants. The "follow your heart" idea is dangerous and not something I believe in anymore because feelings can be temporary. Make sure that your desires aren't just based off feeling, that one day you want to do that thing, and another day you don't feel like doing it. If God aligns you in a certain way you won't really lack motivation, your mind and heart posture will say "It would be a pleasure to do that thing for you Lord".

 

[Sacred.Beautiful.]

Some think the symbology of dreams is related to the process of compressing short term memory into long term memory.

You mentioned the strong emphasis you have for your desires. Christianity is about the transition from the flesh (selfishness) to Christ like love (selflessness). If you are able to set aside some of the intensity of your desires, you may find they take a less prominent role in your dreams.

Yes, definitely working on keeping my desires in their right place. Thank you for the advice.

 

[Sacred.Beautiful.]

Maybe try this,
In a prayer, ask God to use you. This is what I did and over time God gave me direction and purpose. "Lord, please use me as a tool as you see fit. I surrender to you Lord, please guide me and shape me in the way you want". Something like that. Let God be the potter, as you are the clay.
This way you will be aligned to do God's work so that you can confirm whether your selfish desires are just either getting in the way, or are truly in alignment to what God wants. The "follow your heart" idea is dangerous and not something I believe in anymore because feelings can be temporary. Make sure that your desires aren't just based off feeling, that one day you want to do that thing, and another day you don't feel like doing it. If God aligns you in a certain way you won't really lack motivation, your mind and heart posture will say "It would be a pleasure to do that thing for you Lord".

That is an excellent prayer. It's beautiful - and one I am afraid to pray. Which basically reveals my heart, doesn't it?

 

[Muhan]

That is an excellent prayer. It's beautiful - and one I am afraid to pray. Which basically reveals my heart, doesn't it?

Not really, you do not have to ask God to use you. God uses everyone every day.
There is not anything that God created, that He does not use for the purpose of its existence.
You are always being used by God. And I think that is wonderful.

 

[Muhan]

Maybe try this,
In a prayer, ask God to use you. This is what I did and over time God gave me direction and purpose. "Lord, please use me as a tool as you see fit. I surrender to you Lord, please guide me and shape me in the way you want". Something like that. Let God be the potter, as you are the clay.
This way you will be aligned to do God's work so that you can confirm whether your selfish desires are just either getting in the way, or are truly in alignment to what God wants. The "follow your heart" idea is dangerous and not something I believe in anymore because feelings can be temporary. Make sure that your desires aren't just based off feeling, that one day you want to do that thing, and another day you don't feel like doing it. If God aligns you in a certain way you won't really lack motivation, your mind and heart posture will say "It would be a pleasure to do that thing for you Lord".

Do you actually believe all this you have posted?