Misplaced Dreams and God's Perfect Will
We often hear about misplaced priorities—when someone focuses on areas that don’t add value to their life. But do you know there’s something called misplaced dreams? This happens when God gives us a dream, but we interpret it based on our own desires, rather than the true message He intended to deliver.
Imagine a young woman having a dream about getting married. In her heart, she believes the dream shows her future husband. But instead of receiving God’s intended message, she interprets it through her own desires. What God meant to reveal gets reshaped to fit her longing.
I remember speaking to a woman of God who found herself in a difficult situation. She had been in a relationship with a married man, believing that God had spoken to her about marrying him, even though the man later divorced his wife to marry her. The foundation of their relationship was already shaky, built on the wrong principles. Despite the uneasiness, she convinced herself that God had given her the green light.
Years into the marriage—about 10 or 15 years later—this woman found herself in despair. She began to pray again and asked God, "Was this really Your will for my life?" She cried out, questioning if God had spoken to her back then about marrying this man.
God’s response was profound: "Yes, I spoke to you, but I responded to what you wanted to hear. You never asked if it was My will; but you told Me you wanted to be married to him and asked if I would bless your union ." God allowed it because she insisted. This is the difference between God’s perfect will and God’s permissive will.
God’s perfect will is His ideal plan for our lives, while His permissive will is what He allows based on our choices, even when it’s not the best for us. That woman had built her marriage on the permissive will of God, not His perfect will. And it took years of heartache before she realized it wasn’t God’s best for her life.
Like when Israel cried out for a king in 1 Samuel 8:6-7, "But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, 'Give us a king to judge us.' So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, 'Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.'"
Many of us are frustrated in life, wondering why things don’t seem to align. We’ve prayed, we’ve sought God, but still, the outcomes feel off. Often, it’s because what we’ve been pursuing isn’t in alignment with God’s perfect will but rather His permissive will—things He has allowed but never intended.
What is God’s will for your life? What is His purpose for your destiny?
The Bible talks about renewing our minds to align with God's will. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” This verse shows that we can easily conform to the world’s ways, but through renewal, we can experience transformation and discern God’s will.
There are different levels of God's will—His good, acceptable, and perfect will. Romans 12:2 continues, showing us that each level requires a different degree of renewal in our minds. You can live in God’s good will, but it takes full submission and alignment with God to experience His perfect will.
Peter was saved from death because the church prayed for God’s perfect will. Acts 12:5 says, “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” However, James was not, and it wasn’t because God wanted James to die. It was simply that the church hadn’t fought for the manifestation of God's perfect will.
Many people have suffered loss and missed out on God’s best because they settled for His permissive will instead of pressing in for His perfect will. Ephesians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
To walk in the perfect will of God, your mind must be renewed and aligned with His plans for your life. Only then can you step into the fullness of what God has prepared for you. Don’t settle for less. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Seek God’s perfect will and allow His best to manifest in your life.
Bless you.
