Manifest Your God Dream
“Sometimes You instill a dream in me that seems far beyond my reach. I know that my own resources are inadequate for attaining such a goal. Thus begins my journey of profound dependence on You. It’s a faith-walk, taken one step at a time, leaning on You for strength and guidance.”
– Jesus Listens, November 6th
“Then the Lord replied: ‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.’” Habakkuk 2:2-3 NIV
Have you received a dream, vision, or promise from God that felt big, lofty, or so far away, that you didn’t know how it could come to pass?
I stared out the window of the cramped apartment I shared with a roommate, the sounds of New York City never ceasing—sirens wailing, car horns blaring, and voices echoing through the narrow corridors of my low-income housing. This wasn’t exactly the dream I’d been promised.
Years earlier I received a prophetic word that felt like lightning striking my soul. The words rang clear and unmistakable: I would live and work in Hollywood as an actress. But as I sat there, counting quarters for the laundromat and wondering if I could afford groceries that week, those golden promises felt as distant as the stars themselves.
You may know the same feeling of having two realities in your hands simultaneously. In one palm, the weight of God’s magnificent promise—shimmering, alive, pulsing with possibility. In the other, the cold, hard truth of your current circumstances—heavy, unyielding, undeniably real. God Dreams are born in that sacred tension between what is and what He says will be.
You see, a “God Dream” is different from a figment of your own imagination. It’s more than wishful thinking or a nice idea. It’s a divine blueprint, a heavenly download that carries the DNA of your destiny and purpose. Unlike personal dreams birthed from your desires, God Dreams are connected to your life’s calling, and can sometimes feel so impossible, impractical, or downright illogical, that a heavenly hand is needed to bring them to pass. These dreams require a measure of belief that stretches beyond your imagination and bold, faith-filled action that defies conventional wisdom.
Your God Dream might whisper of healing a broken marriage, starting a business or ministry to transform communities, writing books that change hearts, or even acting, speaking, or performing on stages you’ve never imagined. God Dreams don’t merely originate from your mind; they’re birthed in the heart of the Father and deposited into your soul like seeds of destiny.
For years, I clung to that Hollywood prophecy while pounding the pavement in New York. I sent headshots into what felt like a void, auditioned endlessly for opportunities that led nowhere, and worked a side job to survive. The gap between God’s promise and my reality felt like a chasm I couldn’t bridge.
But here’s what I learned: the manifestation of our God Dreams isn’t a solo act—it’s a divine partnership with our Creator. The Lord provides the vision, but we must elevate our faith to receive the vision when it comes. Our Father opens divine doors, but we must courageously walk through them. Jesus speaks, but we must listen and heed His voice.
One evening, after an exhausting day of work, I heard a gentle whisper: “Go to the Bible study tonight.” My logical mind protested immediately. It was late, I was tired, and getting there would require taking two buses, a train, then walking for blocks through dark, rainy Manhattan streets. Every practical bone in my body screamed “stay home.”
But sometimes obedience looks like saying yes when everything else says no.
I finally reached the Bible study as it was ending. Ah! Had I made this long trek on public transportation for nothing? Then my eyes were drawn to a woman across the room, and something stirred in my spirit. Out of nowhere, I suddenly felt led to pray for her.
As everyone gathered their belongings to leave, the woman began walking in my direction. I overcame my nervousness and gently asked this stranger, “Can I pray for you?”
What happened next still gives me chills. As I began to pray, words flowed from my lips that I could never have known about this stranger’s life. The woman began to weep, and grabbed my hands with trembling fingers. “Everything you prayed,” she whispered, “every single thing—those are the exact prayers I’ve been crying out to God about for months.”
In that moment, I rejoiced at the breakthrough she experienced and the powerful confirmation of why I had been called to travel all the way there that night. It was for her. I became emotional myself, sensing just how much the Lord loved this woman, and overflowing with gratitude that He would use me to bless her that evening.
I had no idea I was about to discover that divine manifestations often come disguised as simple acts of obedience.
Through tear-filled eyes, she introduced herself. When I heard her name, I jolted. It turned out that she was the creator of a show I’d been trying for three months to get an audition for! I’d felt so drawn to the role, but despite doing everything in my power to open that door, it stood firmly shut.
Hearing and obeying the voice of God that night changed everything.
Within weeks, I was cast in her show, and catapulted into my new life as an actress in Hollywood. My simple act of obedience and service released me into the divine manifestation of my God Dream, and I haven’t looked back since.
As you partner with Heaven’s plan for your life, remain sensitive to where the Lord is calling you to go, and whom He is calling you to serve. Partner your faith with His faithfulness, your obedience with His omnipotence, even if you don’t have the answers or see the complete picture. Trust that God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His paths often wind through territories we never expected to traverse. Be willing to take the next faithful step, even when it seems unrelated to your ultimate destination.
Your current reality—whether it’s a cramped apartment, a difficult season, or circumstances seemingly mocking your dreams—isn’t your final destination. It’s your training ground. It’s where you learn to hear His voice above the noise, to trust His timing above your timeline, and to step boldly into uncharted territory simply because He asked you. The obstacles you’re facing don’t have to be your prison; it can be your preparation. Your God Dream isn’t dead in the waiting—it’s being refined, readied, and positioned for the perfect moment of manifestation.
The vision the Lord has given you is a beautiful dance with destiny, and the secret is allowing Him to take the lead. Through my miraculous experience at that Bible Study years ago, the Lord showed me that the manifestation of our God Dreams doesn’t solely depend upon our own strength. Sometimes networking, persistence, and determination aren’t enough. Divine breakthroughs often come through your willingness to say yes when Jesus calls.
So lean in, listen close, and when He whispers that next step, take it. You never know what divine door your simple obedience is opening, or whose life—including your own—might be forever changed by your willingness to heed God’s voice.
Your yes may be the key that unlocks everything.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Edwina Findley is an award-winning film, television, and theatre actress, celebrated by critics as “a marvel to watch.” A vibrant and versatile actress, Edwina’s starred in Shonda Rhimes’ hit Netflix series The Residence, The Wire, If Loving You Is Wrong, Middle of Nowhere, Free In Deed, Get Hard, Fear The Walking Dead, HBO’s Veep, The Power, Black Lightning, Chicago Med, HBO’s Treme, Shots Fired, and more. Edwina is a native of Washington, DC, where she attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts then studied drama at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Theatrically, Edwina has performed around the world and at some of the nation’s finest theaters, including The Kennedy Center, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Juilliard, Atlantic Theatre Company, Center Theatre Group, Baltimore Centerstage, and Cleveland Playhouse. She is the CEO of Abundant Life University, and travels the world inspiring audiences to bravely press past their fears, unleash their highest vision, and manifest the life they’ve been praying for. Edwina has been featured in Oprah, People Magazine, Time Magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post, In Style, Essence, Hollywood Reporter, and more. Edwina’s most cherished blessings are her loving husband Kelvin Dickerson and their bright and beautiful little girls, Victoria and London. Connect with Edwina at www.edwinafindley.com.
