Dreams are an intriguing phenomenon. People often dream of being chased by monsters or other scary things. My mother had a great fear of roosters after being chased by one as a child. She was sometimes haunted by them in her dreams. As a schoolage child I rode a school bus every morning and afternoon. Although I don’t remember ever chasing after one, I often did just that in recurring dreams during my early adult years. What made my experience especially interesting, was that after I received my degree at the age of forty, and began my career as a teacher, those frustrating dreams stopped.
As I thought about these scenarios, I thought about all the things we chase after in life— independence, friends, marriage, careers, and so much more. I wondered what God might have to say about what we should pursue, and found that He has much to say.
The Apostle Peter quoted King David when he spoke these challenging words to early Believers, “Whoever would love life and see good days…must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.” (1 Peter 3:10,11 and Psalm 34:12,14 NIV) The man known for his wisdom declared, “…he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.” (Proverbs 12:11 NIV). And Jesus Himself warned us to be careful what/who we run after. (Luke 17:23 NIV) So what should we do? The writer of Hebrews admonishes, “…throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1 NIV). How do we do that? The writer goes on to say, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV). When we make prayer a priority in our busy schedules, and read God’s Word, asking for understanding, we see what Jesus considers as most important, and can therefore strive for those things. In addition, it is beneficial to seek out others who are likeminded, to connect with and to encourage.
I challenge you to chase, run after, pursue God’s purpose for you. And, “Run in such a way as to get the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV)