I dreamed I had two lions! I don’t know how I came to have two lions, but I knew they were mine. One lion was bigger and more mature than the other.
In my dream, I had to run some errands. I told my lions they couldn’t come with me. I was concerned what people would think. Also, I wasn’t confident about how they would behave or respond to me in public. Although I was not afraid of them, this new revelation of owning lions was not only a surprise but also a bit of a concern.
When I got back from my trip into town, the lions came running to greet me; each had a shoe of mine in their mouth. It appeared that they missed me and showed great attachment to me.
To attract as little attention as possible, I waited until darkness to take them for their exercise run. I started up my Jeep Wrangler and I told them to run alongside. To my surprise, the more mature lion, instead of running beside the vehicle, jumped onto the passenger seat next to me. I could not help but laugh. At that moment, I felt good about being with my lions. The younger lion, he was happy to be lopping along beside the jeep. The dream ended.
My thoughts:
Are the two lions a part of me? The strong and courageous part of me? Why do I leave them at home? Am I afraid of peoples’ reactions? Am I unsure about my ability to handle them in public?
Perhaps the answer is yes, I mused. I jotted down my thoughts.
1. Am I confident that I have control of my lions when they are around others? Will the lions behave, or will they cause a problem?
2. Do I trust God to be my strength and courage? Or am I trying to be strong and courageous on my own?
3. I don’t want to draw attention to myself. Once I do, I have to perform. People will notice my lions.
4. Have I got God’s Word planted in my heart? Do I trust God with these lions he has given me? “As He is so are we in this world” 1 John 4:17, came to mind.
5. Are my Strong and Courageous lions intimidating, or will they encourage, help and instill confidence in others? Will they point to Jesus?
6. Where does my strength come from? “I can do all things (that God calls me to do) through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.
As I continued to ponder my dream, it came to me that taking Strong and Courageous (I named them) out to exercise has something to do with putting my strength and courage into practice. But why at night? Am I exercising my gifts and calling quietly, testing before exposing them to the public? Do I have the strength of character to be trustworthy with my lions and make good choices? Do I trust myself with my lions? Can people depend on me? Do the people I meet on a daily basis even know I have these lions?
My thoughts shifted:
What about the more mature lion jumping into the seat beside me? I want to be more like him.
1. He has power.
2. He has inner strength. He is confident, persistent, and focused, yet enjoys the moment.
3. He is not concerned about what others think of him.
4. He is tough and brave—courageous.
5. He is resilient and does not buckle under pressure.
6. He is a leader.
And the younger lion? He teaches me that I need to exercise my faith daily if I want to be strong and courageous. I need to keep spiritually fit if I am to be taking lions out in public. And, I still have plenty to learn.
I conclude:
Having Jesus, who is my Strong and Courageous, at my side means I can safely let the lions out. I do not have to be afraid if I let God work in me and through
me as He wills. “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:10
Do you need to unlock the Strong and Courageous within you?
Do you need to let your lions out?