Once I was taking a class in an entrepreneurial class at Syracuse University. It was a miracle I was even taking the class, first of all because it was free, and being an entrepreneur was never a dream of mine. I took the class to write a business plan because I was planning on going to Africa and wanted to share my plan with other businesses.
Well, I must have startled my professor in this class, because as I wrote the business plan, I wrote from my heart – and mentioned just that… and she politely wrote in my margin: “hearts don’t have plans“. When I got the paper back, at first offended. Then, I thought about it. I realized that the only reason had I written the business plan, was because that’s the vision God gave me to implement.
Where else does God speak from, if He doesn’t speak from my heart, I thought? And unless I listened to my heart, I wouldn’t even be here! After pondering this thought, I realized a few moments later, that my professor was wrong. Hearts really do have plans.
Instantly, I was reminded of a time when I was given a repetitive dream. (This is a true story that happened to me several years ago.) I dreamt for several years that I returned to college, and I dreamt I was back at Cazenovia College – this time not to attend school, but for something else. I would walk the halls over and over again, and when I got to my mailbox, I would pull out my key to open it, and the dream would end. Having graduated from college, I used to ask within myself: ‘why do I keep dreaming about returning?’ Well… one day I went back to visit my alma mater, and met with an old professor. She casually mentioned she would like me to consider teaching a class, that one of her adjunct professors was leaving and she desired I take it over. ( I kind of laughed, but I noticed she didn’t.) “Think about it…“, she said.
So I went home, I meditated on the thought, prayed and as I prayed, the scripture came to mind: “Delight thyself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” (Ps. 37:4) While in prayer, I was also reminded of this recurring dream. It seemed like I heard God whisper in my heart: ‘Why do you think I gave you the dream?’ I thought: “Certainly it’s not possible God can give us a desire we didn’t know we even had!” Seconds later, as I got up from prayer, I heard my door bell ring, and answered it. A friend was at the door, and she handed me a gift. The plaque she offered had these words on it: Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Talk about confirmation! Within weeks, I was on campus, walking up to my mailbox, I pulled out my key...(smile). I had complete deja vu experience!! The dream…was planted in my heart- and it had come true!
The Bible says to : “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. ” Prov. 4:23 This scripture means a lot to me, because it reminds me to pay attention to the details of life. Even the dreams God gives you.
When you are struggling with your purpose, and are determining to find out where you fit in this life, listen to your heart. Hearts have plans. When I ‘get stuck’ in life and am having a hard time figuring out where to “find center”... I look into my heart, and I listen. I remove all distractions and focus on the Word of God, as my compass, to help me find my way. When opportunity arose, I was present to follow my heart – because it was God’s plan. Not my own.
The heart after all… is where God’s people can see clearly. It’s the place where God chooses to covenant with us. It’s the place where God chooses to DWELL.
How could there not be plans in there?
