Dream Killers

And they said to one another, ‘Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, some wild beast has devoured him.  We shall see what will become of his dreams!’ Genesis 37:20

Joseph’s brothers, being jealous of him and offended that he dared to believe a dream that he may one day rule over them, sought to do the one thing that would ensure that the dream never materialized: kill him. 

The truth is, we all are a victim of dream killers.  Satan works each day to plot and strategize how to kill you, to ensure that your dream is never realized—walking around “like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) 

Thank God that we have His grace, which abounds greater when we are being attacked by the enemy. And of course, when God allows us to go through attacks as He did with Joseph, He does so in order for it to work together for our good. “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)  

Have you been invaded by dream killers?  Do you know who your dream killers are?  Do you know how to overcome them?

Though some of us will face physical attacks and betrayal like Joseph, the real battle that we all have to overcome is spiritual and mental.  The enemy can bring you physical harm, but only you can allow the dream to be killed.  The enemy uses various tactics: dream killers, to ensure that our dreams are not realized.  We must learn how to identify them and not give place for them in our lives.  These dream killers are:

Doubt 

The devil wants us to lose confidence in ourselves and our dreams so that we may stop pursuing that dream.  Be willing to be wrong, but reject doubt at all costs, because it can insure that your dreams won’t be realized.  James 1:2-8

Fear

The devil wants us to be afraid of success and/or failure more than we fear God.  Be willing to fail and quickly recover so you can embrace the responsibilities of success. II Timothy 1:7

Unforgiveness

The devil wants us to hold grudges against those who harmed us, creating a weight that keeps us from running towards our dreams.  Forgive and forget. You may be hurt again, but you will never regret forgiveness.  Matthew 18:35, Mark 11:25-26

Greed

The devil wants us to fall in love with the trappings of success as our dreams are realized. Never be motivated by money, only by a love for God and for people. I Timothy 6:9-10

Sin

The devil wants us to compromise in our Christian walk, keeping us from being intimate with God and giving him the glory as our dreams are realized. Reject sin at all costs to keep your dreams sanctified.  I John 3:4

Unbelief

The devil wants us to doubt our faith so that we may question who God is and no longer recognize Him as the source of our dreams and manifestation.  Even when you doubt, seek the help of God to give you the grace to believe, keeping you in fellowship with God. Mark 9:23-24

Discouragement 

The devil wants to use the daily challenges of life and our failures to discourage us from pursuing our dreams.  Never, ever give up.  Persevere. I Samuel 30:6

Procrastination

The devil will distract you with other things to keep you from working hard to make your dreams reality. Have a mind to work.  Work is worshiping God with your talents, and procrastination can cause you to worship yourself rather than God.  Working unto the Lord almost guarantees that your dreams will come to pass.  Proverb 6:6-11

Lust 

The devil wants you to crave the trappings of success and abuse your body and mind. Cultivating an appetite for the things of God allows you to enjoy the fruits of your dreams without violating your vows and obligations.  I John 2:15-17

Pride

The devil wants you to believe that you did it through your own ability; to think more of yourself than you ought to think. Forget how you got there, but instead focus on your skill. Remember that pride comes before the fall.  It is a human smokescreen that allows us only to see what we want to see.  This is a sure way to destroy everything that God has blessed you with.  Proverbs 16:18-19

Joseph did not allow the dream killers to get to him, and by this, his dream came true. God used him to save a nation and a people who became a catalyst for the coming of the Messiah.  Our dreams are never about us; they are always about those who God wants us to bless.  Who may be missing out on a blessing because you have not realized your dreams?

My prayer today is for you to know how to recognize dream killers when you see them. God will give you the grace to shield yourself so that your dreams may be realized and manifested for His glory.