We are nearing the 2013 NASCAR season. Two weeks from today, the Daytona 500 will kick off the official season. But until then, there will be a great deal of racing events in the Daytona area.

I’ve had several dreams related to NASCAR. One was to go to the Daytona 500. I can check that one off the list. My mom and I enjoyed the Daytona 500 and lots more in 2011. It was a dream come true.

Another dream is to take a tour of a NASCAR shop. Most of the shops are in North Carolina, so a trip to that area would allow for multiple tours. On one of my visits to Ohio, I had a layover in Charlotte. Imagine my surprise to walk through the food court and to find a NASCAR Sprint Cup car there. Okay, so it shouldn’t have been, but it was! Jeff Gordon’s number 24 was right there. It was pretty cool.

There is one team whose headquarters and shop isn’t anywhere near North Carolina. The Furniture Row racing team is based in Denver, Colorado. Yes, in my neck of the woods. It would not take a lot of effort on my part to fulfill my dream of touring a race garage. However, I have yet to do so.

I read a quote this week on Facebook that went something like this. “Dreams remain dreams until you write them down. Then they become goals.” Why is it we allow our dreams to just remain dreams? What keeps us from realizing those dreams?

I don’t know that I can answer these questions for everyone, but I can answer them for myself. Fear holds me back. Disappointment lurks around every corner. Insecurities of past failures remind me of such failures. This list could go on and on.

And do you know who loves it when I am unable to achieve my dreams? Satan. He just loves to mess up my plans. To throw his two cents worth into the picture. You see, fear, disappointment, and insecurity all come from him. They are not from God.

God’s plan is to rid my life of anything that will pull me into the pit of despair (Psalm 40:1-2). God wants me to succeed (Jeremiah 29:11-13). God wants me to have confidence (Philippians 1:4-6).

Oh my little dream of touring a race garage is miniscule in comparison to other life goals I have. Be a published author. Perhaps join the speaking tour. Find a job. Lose weight. Share Jesus with others. Grow in my spiritual journey. Dreams? Perhaps, but now they must be goals.

So when I’m not sure of myself or my abilities, I can remind myself from whom I receive my confidence, strength, and talents. I can quote Scripture to keep fear and disappointment at bay. Perhaps you need something to help you as well. If so, maybe we can memorize these passages together.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1 – NIV)

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26 – NIV)

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.” (Jeremiah 17:7 – NIV)

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37 – NIV)

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31b – NIV)

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13 – NIV)

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7 – NIV)

I pray that you’ll find great comfort and encouragement from these words of God. He is on our side (Psalm 118:6). He wants us to succeed (Proverbs 16:3). He has great plans for us (Ephesians 2:10).

I don’t know about you, but I believe I’m ready to make my dreams come true. Would you like to join me?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna