I would like to invite you into a concept I have used over the years in visioning. “You were created in the image of God. In the image of God you were created…” Genesis 1:27. Before you were ever genetically coded to a mom and a dad, God knew you. You were His idea before you were anyone else’s child. This being true, He must have placed within you characteristics of His very own nature.

Think about that for a moment. If we are created in His image, then the very qualities of God—His kindness, His creativity, His compassion, His strength—have been woven into the fabric of who we are. Sometimes we get caught up in believing that our identity is wrapped up in what we do: the jobs we hold, the responsibilities we carry, or even the roles we play in our families and communities. But what we do is not who we are. At our core, we are reflections of God’s nature. We are of much greater worth than anything we will ever accomplish.

Over the years, I have often encouraged people to take time to reflect and actually list their top ten God-given attributes. At first, it might feel uncomfortable or even prideful to write down things like, I am kind. I am faithful. I am sincere. But this exercise is not about boasting. It’s about recognizing that these traits are not things we conjured up ourselves—they are evidence of God’s image in us.

I usually guide people with simple questions:

• Is Jesus kind?

• Is Jesus sincere?

• Is Jesus faithful?

   

If the answer is yes—and of course it is—then it follows that when we see these qualities in ourselves, they are reflections of Christ within us. Naming these attributes out loud helps us remember that God is continually forming His character in us. It grounds us in truth and steadies us in seasons when our identity feels shaky.

But here’s the beautiful part: this process is only the beginning. Recognizing God’s character in us is the doorway to something much bigger—learning to hear from God and stepping into His vision for our lives.

Hearing God’s Voice

So, am I actually suggesting that God places thoughts, dreams, and visions inside our minds—that He invites us to partner with Him in imagining what our lives could be under His guidance? Yes, I absolutely am.

We serve a God who still speaks. When we begin to pair the character traits He has built within us with the thoughts and dreams He plants in our minds, something powerful happens. We start to dream bigger—not in the sense of chasing worldly success or accolades, but in aligning our vision with the heartbeat of God.

What Does It Mean to Dream Bigger?

Dreaming bigger with God is not about striving for more accomplishments or possessions. Instead, it is about obedience. It’s about leaning into the reality that the Holy Spirit is alive and active within us, nudging us toward God’s purposes.
For example, maybe you’ve felt a quiet stirring to step into a new area of ministry, to encourage someone who has been overlooked, or to create something that blesses others. At first, those thoughts might feel like random ideas or fleeting moments of inspiration. But what if they are actually seeds planted by God? What if they are glimpses of His vision for you?
When we dare to believe that God has entrusted us with His own dreams, it changes everything. Our “small” acts of kindness suddenly carry eternal significance. Our daily work, no matter how ordinary it feels, becomes a canvas where God paints His purposes. Even our challenges and setbacks can become opportunities for Him to shape us more deeply into His image.
Dreaming bigger does not always mean thinking grander; sometimes it means thinking deeper. It’s not just about what we do, but about who we are becoming in the process of saying “yes” to God.

Practicing Obedience

Obedience is not as glamorous as dreaming. It doesn’t always make for an exciting story or a flashy headline. But obedience is where vision takes root. Without obedience, our dreams remain ideas. With obedience, they become realities that bear fruit for God’s kingdom.
I like to think of obedience as a daily practice rather than a one-time decision. Each day presents small opportunities to say “yes” to God. Sometimes those yeses look like forgiving someone who has hurt us. Other times they look like stepping out in courage when God nudges us to speak, to lead, or to serve in ways that stretch us.
The more we say yes, the more attuned we become to God’s voice. The more attuned we are, the more clearly we can see His vision for our lives.

An Invitation to Reflect

So let me invite you to take a few moments and reflect:

1. What are the top ten God-given attributes you see in yourself? Write them down.

2. Which of those traits do you feel God is calling you to lean into more deeply right now?

3. Have you noticed any recurring thoughts, dreams, or visions that might be invitations from God?

4. What would it look like to respond with obedience, even if the next step feels small?

My Own Story

Let me share a story from my own life when God asked me to dream bigger. 22 years ago my wife Hope and I were at the top of our careers. There’s Hope christian counseling was thriving in the classic one hour sessions and I was the chaplain, volunteering Pastor coordinator and the founding chair of the ethics committee to hospitals in Erie Pennsylvania.
Hope and I began to have a strong stirring in our hearts, trying to answer the question, “What would be the most effective way to try and help couples in crisis and troubled individuals?” We felt the Lord’s leading into a retreat style 5-day format.
We began to scour the entire country to find a beautiful year-round accessible place close to an airport. We looked for 2 years and kept feeling the Lord say dream bigger, dream bigger! Suddenly, two and a half years later, we felt the word to go and the miracles began! Our home sold for two times what we were hoping for and because of changes at the hospital, I was able to receive 6 months severance pay to kickstart our launch.
Soon three beautiful offices and eventually two beautiful Apartments were created in our home. Our family moved to be around us and the clients continue to grow. We now have 2 full time intensive counselors and 2 life coaches. But the story doesn’t stop there….
The phone rang one day last fall asking if we would be interested in purchasing 86 Acres with a brand new renovated cabin referred to as Holy Hill. The property includes a beautiful stone chapel and outbuildings that are perfect for three offices. I hesitated, it seemed almost too good to be true. But again, God was asking us to dream bigger. Hope and I purchased the property and the Ranch of Hope board voted to begin a campaign to raise money to purchase the land from us. This land is almost more beautiful than we could have hoped for. By faith, we have heard from God and purchasing the land allows us to dream even bigger in the years to come-eventually expanding to over 240 acres as the Lord directs. Always, dream bigger!

Closing Thoughts

Dreaming bigger with God is not about building our own kingdoms. It is about aligning ourselves with His kingdom purposes. It starts with recognizing His image in us, grows through listening for His voice, and flourishes as we practice daily obedience.
The Holy Spirit is alive and active in us. He invites us to live, breathe, and have our very existence in Him. And when we accept that invitation, we step into a vision far greater than anything we could have imagined on our own.
So today, may you pause long enough to recognize God’s character in you. May you dare to believe that the dreams stirring within you might just be His. And may you have the courage to say “yes,” trusting that with Him, you can always dream bigger.