If we met for coffee to talk about your dreams and hopes, I’m sure you could tell me about them, but could you show them to me? Do you have them written down right now? It’s not too late to begin writing. There’s a powerful difference between thinking about your dreams and writing them down. Yes, thinking about and meditating on them is important, but if you don’t write them down, these God-given dreams can become less real—and they can fade.
“I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. 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 2:1-3).
Writing your dreams is part of stewarding your dreams. Let’s look at these verses again and make them personal to our journey. Notice the process:
✦ Wait on God. This requires an investment of time, focus, and humility.
✦ Listen for what He says and the visions He impresses on you.
✦ When it is clear, write it down. Make it simple and bold. If the vision seems too big to come to pass, that’s great! We want dreams that are too big for us—nothing is too big for God.
✦ Tell your dream to those close to you. Post it in your home.
✦ Believe. No matter the circumstances, hold on to the vision. That’s another important reason to have it written and visible.
✦ Take steps to walk out your dream.
✦ Wait, patiently, in faith. Again, this requires humility and courage.
God told me that Friends of Zion was a 100-year plan. And that revelation was humbling because I realized that I would not be here for most of the plan. I had an assignment to fulfill, but I couldn’t take ownership of God’s plan. I also have a responsibility from God to lead into future generations, and for that to happen, we need a clear, written vision—and a plan.I remember when I was praying about a chairman for Friends of Zion, and I thought maybe a famous pastor would be the perfect fit for the role. But one day the Lord spoke and said, “No, you don’t need a pastor—you need a president.” So, I went to the 9th President of Israel, His Excellency Shimon Peres, and asked him if he’d be the International Chairman for Friends of Zion. His staff told me there was no possible way he’d do it. He’d turned down Jewish organizations—he’s not going to be the chairman of a Christian organization. But he said yes!
Shimon Peres commissioned the Friends of Zion Award for us, which has now been given to over 25 world leaders, including two U.S. Presidents—George W. Bush, and Donald J. Trump. While we were still building the museum, I took a Friends of Zion award and inscribed the name of former president George W. Bush. That was my dream—to give him the first award.
I contacted President Bush, and he agreed to receive the award. Shimon Perez flew down to Dallas with me for the ceremony. When we walked in the door of the elevator, George W. Bush looked at Shimon Perez and said with his trademark grin, “Wow, you’re really old. I bet you’re older than my father!” He said, “Yes, I’m one year older.” Just then, Laura Bush spoke up and said, “George!” Translation: “Zip it.”
And there I was, giving the Friends of Zion Award to former President George W. Bush, just as I had dreamed. Years later, I took that same award, and I inscribed the name “Donald Trump” on it. This was before we ever met, but I simply knew it would come to pass. The award sat on my desk for almost a year until I received a phone call from Jared Kushner that the president would accept the award—in the Oval Office. There was a big ceremony in the Oval Office with all the top evangelical leaders there. Write down your dreams!
