This episode is all about why you need to write a vision statement for your dream, how to do it, and how I’m willing to help you get this done. These steps have helped me so much in my dreaming process because they have forced me to get really honest about the dream, my role in it, God’s role in it, and how I want to share it with the world. Now I’m able to be more precise in defining what the dream actually is and helped me communicate it more eloquently to others.
151 || [Solo] 5 Steps to Shifting Your Dream During a Pandemic || Merritt Onsa
Whether you’ve already started on your dream or you’re still in the starting blocks trying to figure out how to pivot as a result of changing circumstances, now is the time to think creatively about how to move forward and take messy action. What have you got to lose? You will never feel more prepared, educated, or ready to start. Those things are a façade and a stalling tactic. If the dream is there, it’s time for you to take the next step.
136 || Stop Stalling. Six Habits for Progress in Your Dream || Merritt Onsa
Finishing is one of the most difficult things for me to do. Maybe it’s a fear of not being able to keep improving on something once it’s done. I don’t know for sure, but I’m embarrassed to admit that more than once I’ve left a project unfinished indefinitely. But there is one thing I do know: I really like to start stuff!
IF YOU HAVE EVER HAD TROUBLE GETTING STARTED, THIS WAS THE EPISODE FOR YOU.
This episode is all about helping you establish a process of starting and continuing to move forward in your God-shaped dream. I said, “stop stalling” in the title because I know, just like my fear of something being imperfect at the finish line, there’s also a big fear out there of not doing it right to begin with.
That’s why I wanted to document a six-step process to help you get your dream moving forward once and for all or to help you keep going once you’ve begun. I asked a few listeners for their best experiences with forming new habits in the face of pursuing something bigger than themselves; those are included as well as some of my own suggestions for what helps improve your perseverance once you’re in the middle of the dream.
In this final solo episode of 2019, my prayer for you is that you would take a big leap in the year to come: that you would trust God fully with whatever He has for you and whatever He’s shown you to do with your one life here on this earth. I also pray that He gives you the strength to just keep moving forward unless or until He shows you differently.
We are in this together, my Sisters in Christ. You’re not alone in stepping out to pursue a dream that scares the crud out of you. But don’t let that stop you. You were created for a reason, and we can’t wait to see how God will use you for the praise of His glory!
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MENTIONED ON THE SHOW:
Episode 107 – You are a Daughter of the Most High King
TBD - Where you can find the audio book including the entire set of solo episodes from 2019 PLUS bonus content just for those who buy the audio book.
Stay Connected:
Subscribe for my monthly Dream Letter HERE: Bit.ly/dreamltr for once a month letter from me!
The Other Solo Episodes You May Have Missed:
Episode 110 – You Have Great Value and Worth
Episode 113 – You Were Created for a Reason
Episode 116 – Two Simple Reasons Your Dream is Not About You
Episode 119 – How to Stop Fear from Stealing Your Dream
And My appearance on Kindled Podcast with Haley Williams where I walk her through a Fear Inventory
Episode 122 – Obstacles to Finding Your Identity in Christ
Episode 126 – How to Refocus Your Identity on Christ
Episode 129 - How to Move Your Dream Forward Today
Episode 132 – Finding New Ways to Trust God
SCRIPTURE:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
~ Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
~ Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
~ Ephesians 1:11-12 (ESV)
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
~ Colossians 3:1-4 (NLT)
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The Devoted Dreamers Podcastis produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
122 || Obstacles to Finding Your Identity in Christ || Merritt Onsa
Our fears provide clues to understanding where we may have placed our identity in something besides Jesus. In this episode, you’ll discover the value of acknowledging what drives your fears. But you will need to tune in to next month’s solo episode to learn what you can do about it. In the meantime, I am challenging you to really look at what you’re holding tight to and what, if you lost it, would crush you, because that’s where you’ll begin to see that you have misplaced your identity.
119 || How to Stop Fear from Stealing Your Dream || Merritt Onsa
Fear is a common feeling once you start chasing God-shaped dreams, but this fear is not from God. We have a very real enemy to seeks to steal, kill and destroy you and your dreams. Thankfully, we also have a good Father in heaven who loves and cherishes you. He wants to empower courage in you, especially in the face of fear. This episode will coach you through four strategies to overcome fear and anxiety related to pursuing your dream and the importance of discerning what is driving your feelings.
116 || Two Simple Reasons Your Dream is Not About You || Merritt Onsa
You have a dream, a passion that burns deep inside and makes you want to leap from bed in the morning. Maybe your dream is a desire to change the world for the better, or make beautiful things, or teach others what you have learned on your journey. When that dream begins to bubble up, you might get so busy figuring out the next step that you forget to ask who your dream is for. This episode will coach you through questions to ask yourself as you consider who your dream is meant to serve.
113 || You Were Created for a Reason || Merritt Onsa
There is purpose for your life; you are not here by accident. I believe this to be true, and today I’m talking about the two perspectives I’ve been wrestling with related to this topic and how we decipher our God-shaped dreams. The first is that He uses our gifts and talents for our good, for the good of others, and for His Kingdom. The second is that He uses us in spite of our weakness, failure, or even our blatant rejection of His calling upon our lives. So, which is it, strengths or weaknesses?
110 || You Have Great Value and Worth || Merritt Onsa
In this solo episode, I’m talking about where we can find our value and worth because we are daughters of the King. You’ll hear more of my story about how I rested my value on something that was ultimately going to fail me. I share the best response I ever got from a Christian man who knew he couldn’t bear the weight of my identity on his back. And I talk a bit about what’s going on my world right now that has revealed to me that I am struggling, again, to remember that my security is in Christ.
107 || You Are a Daughter of the Most High King || Merritt Onsa
In this solo episode, I’m talking about identity, specifically our identity in Christ as daughters of the Most High King. You’ll hear how I struggled early on as a Christian to even understand what this means and how to live it out. In attempting to understand what it means to find our identity in Christ, I also share what it’s not, meaning you’re going to hear a bit about my messy life before Jesus (um, yes, it’s still messy AFTER Jesus but just in a different way now!) This is important because when we understand who we are in Christ, it informs how we move towards our God-shaped dreams.
Momentum Podcast: Pursuing What Matters Most -- Episode #0 -- Introducing Momentum
The podcast about taking initiative in life and work, following God's lead and paying attention to what happens next.
Welcome to my very first podcast episode. This one will be a little different than future episodes in that it's just me sharing what the podcast is all about, a bit about my story, and experiences that motivated me to start Momentum in the first place.