“Chase your dreams!”
That sounds like good advice, and sometimes it is. But not always. It depends on the dream.
Eighteenth-century composer Giuseppe Tartini once had a dream that he handed the devil his violin to see what he could do with it. The Prince of Darkness played the most amazing piece Tartini had ever heard. When he woke up, he tried to recreate it, but he said the final product couldn’t compare to the one in his dream.
Not every dream is worth chasing. The enemy will gladly put attractive goals in front of you, in the hope of soaking up your energy chasing the pot at the end of the rainbow. Paul wrote, “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (1 Corinthians 11:14).
Recovery Step: Take time to review your dreams. Make a list. Seek godly advice and seek God himself. Only when you are confident that your dreams are from him should you move forward.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
