Have you ever been a part of a team that had a break-through year? In my own experiences as both a player and a coach, I find that those moments happen after a great deal of planning and training. Usually those “miracle” seasons don’t just happen; they are the result of hard work and effort. But one thing they do have in common is a big dream.

Regardless of how hard a coaching staff plans or how much a team trains, if they don’t dream big, they can’t hope to achieve something beyond themselves. In Genesis 37, Scripture tells us about Joseph and his dream. He didn’t just have one, though; he had two. When he shared the dream with his brothers, they completely understood the meaning of the dream: that Joseph would be elevated above them. Verse 11 says that his brothers envied him while his father pondered the meaning of these dreams.

Scripture doesn’t specifically say that Joseph’s dream came from God, but the implication was there. And I would bet that, in the ensuing trials he endured, Joseph probably treasured that dream in his heart. Knowing that he had been promised a great future probably gave him hope when times looked hopeless—strength when he was weak; hope when he was in the depths of despair.

Championship teams have vision. They set goals that others may not believe are possible. Those teams envision the rewards on the other side of their dreams, and they allow that vision to carry them through the trials and tribulations of the season.

When it comes to life, do we do the same thing? Have we ever taken inventory of our gifts, turned them over to God, and said, “Use me to build Your kingdom?” The truth is that we have a Heavenly Father who has hard-wired us with specific gifts, talents and desires that should serve as His instruments. And, when we allow His Spirit to guide our lives, a power is unleashed in us that the gates of Hell cannot prevail against!

We need to start dreaming big! We need to dream like Joseph, and to pray like Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV): “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!” William Faulkner once said, “Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do.”

So, what is your dream? If that dream is in keeping with Scripture and within the boundaries of God’s will, then maybe, just maybe, it was sent by God and He is waiting for you to embrace it and live it out! Dream big for Him!