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Not only does God give you life. God gives you hope and dreams. God granted you the gifts inside you to be brave. To step out of your comfort zone. To make your dreams come true. Dreams are not just in Hollywood or on the big screen. Dreams are in you.
You may feel small and insignificant compared to others. Yet to God, you are big. God has plans for you to be bigger than you are today. Much more spiritually developed and accomplished with each passing day in your life and walk of faith.
One of my prelaw professors at the University of Houston during my junior year told me I did not have the ability to become an attorney. He told me that after a poor result on my first exam. How did I respond? I dropped the prelaw class. My dream of becoming a lawyer was too big to remain in the presence of a small-minded dream killer.
I was in a rock band during my senior year in high school and my first year of college. The band let me go as its keyboard player as they felt (because of my polio) I could not master songs well enough for the band to succeed.
Instead of wallowing in self-pity or acting like an innocent victim, I called KILT Radio’s legendary DJ, Bob White. KILT was sponsoring a competition among 200 band entries to win a recording contract. Through Bob White, I got the name of another band that had no keyboard player. I auditioned and was asked to join the band, Beau Geste. Shortly after, I found myself at Houston’s Downtown Music Hall with nine other bands as the finalists competing for that coveted recording contract. We did not win the contest. My band, Beau Geste, ended up being the third runner-up out of 200.
The members of my former band never made it to the final competition. They did come backstage to congratulate me and the band. Even though they let me go from the band and it hurt me badly, each one of them has remained my good friend to this day.
Here is a poem I wrote that led to writing this prayer.
What is a long shot?
Are the brave rewarded?
A boy is paralyzed with polio at age six.
He goes to law school.
He becomes an attorney.
He marries the angel God sends him.
A boy exits being in the iron lung at night after five years.
He and his bride have kids and grandkids.
He helps hundreds of husbands and wives navigate divorce in a peaceable compassionate way.
He is now the best self he has ever been.
He prays.
He writes songs and books.
That is a long shot.
How is that possible?
That is possible as he received the reward for bravery.
Love.
That boy is me.
So, now I lead with love in all things.
I lead with love in all circumstances.
I lead with love for all people.
So be brave.
Take your long shots.
Just love.
God has spoken in Scripture about being brave and pursuing your dreams.
2 Chronicles 15:7
But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Let us pray together.
Dear God, I have many hopes and dreams within me that I want to live out and accomplish. I am afraid my dreams will never come true or I will fail to make them a reality.
God, in prayer please strengthen me and encourage me to step out of my comfort zone to pursue the dreams that dwell within the gifts You have given me as Your child.
God, I am thankful that You have taken a long shot on me (and all Your children) to make the best out of the blessings You have given me.
God, even if I fail or succeed in accomplishing my dreams, I am forever thankful that Your love for me is never in doubt or uncertain. It is that love that is the greatest reward I could ever receive for being brave and taking long shots in my life in Your name. Amen
If you think Jack’s prayer helps you or will help someone you know, please forward it to them. Jack may never make millions selling books or writing prayers, but spreading God’s good news to others is reward enough for him.
Ann Boland, Jack’s Publicist
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